OH GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME.
THIS IS THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE TWO ON HUMAN
SERVICES. TODAY, WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING ISSUES AND PROGRAMS
RELATED TO THE NEEDS OF OUR
OLDER, VULNERABLE ADULTS IN
CALIFORNIA, FOCUSING ON PROGRAMS
ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
BEFORE WE INVITE OUR FIRST PANEL
TO BEGIN, I'LL JUST MAKE A FEW
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS. TODAY WE
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT SOME
PROPOSALS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN
THE JANUARY JANUARY GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET, WHERE WE ARE STILL
WAITING FOR INFORMATION AND
ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACTS OF THOSE
PROPOSED CUTS. WE FIRST SAW
THESE PROPOSALS ON JANUARY 10TH,
AND TODAY IS APRIL 17TH. I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
ALL CLEAR THAT IF WE ARE MISSING
INFORMATION ABOUT REAL IMPACTS
TO REAL PEOPLE, WE WILL BE IN
OPPOSITION TO THOSE CUTS. WE
NEED COMPLETE INFORMATION AT THE
TIME THAT THESE PROPOSALS ARE
MADE, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE
BEST AND MOST INFORMED DECISIONS
NECESSARY IN TODAY'S HEARING, WE
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT OUR SACRED
RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR ELDERS. WE
WILL HEAR ABOUT HOW SENIORS ARE
FARING IN OUR CALIFORNIA ECONOMY
AND THE SENIOR HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS. THAT IS VERY CONCERNING.
THESE PRESSURES AND COSTS, OF
COURSE, INTERSECT WITH THE BASIC
INCOME SUPPORT THAT THE
GOVERNMENT PROVIDES TO
ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE AGED,
BLIND AND DISABLED RESIDENTS IN
OUR STATE. WE KNOW MORE ABOUT
DISPARITIES, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS
OF HEALTH, AND END STAGE POVERTY
THAN EVER BEFORE. THEREFORE OUR
POPULATION AS OUR POPULATION
AGES AND BECOMES OUR MAJORITY,
WE NEED TO RE-ENGINEER OUR STATE
SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE MORE
PROTECTION AND SUPPORT TO THE
ELDERS AMONGST US WHO NEED OUR
HELP. ADDITIONALLY, ONE OF THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN OUR STATE
IS ENSURING WE CAN PAY ESSENTIAL
WORKERS ADEQUATE FOR THEIR WORK.
PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR OUR
SENIORS IS ESPECIALLY THE
WORKERS PROVIDING CARE THROUGH
THE IHSS PROGRAM. SO AS I CLOSE,
I WILL POSE A VITAL QUESTION
WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO CONCRETELY
ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS
WITH THE MASTER PLAN OF AGING?
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PLAN.
HOWEVER, WE ARE LACKING ENOUGH
MILESTONES TO ENSURE THAT WE
CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF TODAY AND INTO THE
FUTURE. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
DISCUSSIONS TODAY ON THIS WIDE
ARRAY OF CRITICAL SUBJECTS. BUT
ONE THING IS CLEAR IF WE DO NOT
MAKE AGGRESSIVE PROGRESS, THIS
WILL BE THE NEXT CRISIS IN THE
FUTURE AND WE WILL BE AT FAULT
FOR THAT CRISIS. WE MUST PREVENT
THIS CRISIS FROM HAPPENING
BECAUSE OUR SENIORS PROVIDED A
BETTER WORLD FOR US. TODAY IS
NOW OUR TIME TO PAY IT BACK. SO
WITH THAT, I ALSO WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE
ARE GOING TO BE STARTING OUR
PANEL, AFTER ALL OF OUR PANELS
ARE DONE, WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC
COMMENT AFTER THOSE PANELS AS
EACH PERSON PROVIDING PUBLIC
COMMENT WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES
EACH TO MAKE THEIR REMARKS.
THERE WILL NOT BE ANY VOTES
HAPPENING TODAY, SO WITH THAT,
I'M GOING TO ASK OUR FIRST PANEL
TO COME FORWARD TO TAKE THEIR
SEATS AT THE WITNESS TABLE. WE
ASK THAT THEY PLEASE INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES BEFORE YOU SPEAK, AND
LET'S TRY TO GO IN THE ORDER
LISTED IN THE AGENDA. OUR FIRST
ISSUE IS SENIOR POVERTY.
HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER.
Ó THE FIRST ONE UP WILL BE,
DOCTOR MARGARET KUSHELL, MARGO
KUSHELL, WHO WILL BE WITH US,
VIA ZOOM, AND THEN AFTER THAT,
WE WILL GO ON, TO OUR DIRECTOR
OF STATE INCOME SECURITY.
JUSTICE AND AGING. DOCTOR.
CRUCIAL. ARE YOU IN? I'M HERE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR
YOU. WONDERFUL YOU MAY BEGIN
WHEN YOU'RE READY. SURE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR JACKSON. AND
MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET
COMMITTEE. AND THANK YOU FOR
LETTING ME, COME IN VIRTUALLY
TODAY. MY NAME IS DOCTOR
MARGARET CHAU, AND I'M A
PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN
FRANCISCO, WHERE I DIRECT THE
CENTER FOR VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS AND THE UCSF BENIOFF
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING
INITIATIVE. I'M A PRACTICING
PHYSICIAN AND AN NIH FUNDED
RESEARCHER WITH SUBSTANTIAL
EXPERIENCE RESEARCHING
HOMELESSNESS. TODAY, I WANT TO
DISCUSS THE STATE'S OLDER ADULT
HOMELESS POPULATION, THEIR
NEEDS. JUST A MINUTE HERE. CAN
WE TURN THE VOLUME UP? SORRY,
DOCTOR. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE
WE DID SOME ZOOMS. WE GOTTA
RECALIBRATE. THIS KEEPS ME FROM
BEING THERE. OUR TECHNOLOGY HERE
. DID WE TURN UP THE VOLUME NOW
I GET THE MESSAGE. YES. HOW'S
THAT SOUND? LOUDER. CAN YOU HEAR
ME NOW? NO, IT'S ON OUR SIDE.
WE'RE. WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE
THIS OUT. OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THIS
.
ALL RIGHT. WHY DON'T YOU GIVE IT
A TRY? GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU
FOR INVITING ME HERE TODAY TO
DISCUSS THE STATE'S OLDER ADULT
HOMELESS POPULATION, THEIR
NEEDS, AND EVIDENCE BASED
SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT OLDER
ADULTS ON A GIVEN NIGHT IN 2023,
MORE THAN 181,000 PEOPLE
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS IN
CALIFORNIA. WELL, WE HAVE 12% OF
THE US POPULATION HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE 28% OF THE
HOMELESS POPULATION AND HALF OF
THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION, ONE
OF THE FASTEST GROWING GROUPS OF
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
ARE THOSE AGE 50 AND OLDER. IN
THE EARLY 1990S, ABOUT 11% WERE
50 AND OLDER. AND IN OUR RECENT
REPRESENTATIVE STUDY, THE
CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE STUDY OF
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
SHOWS THAT OUR TEAM CONDUCTED.
48% OF SINGLE HOMELESS ADULTS
ARE 50 AND OLDER IN OUR STATE.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE
PROPORTION OF HOMELESS ADULTS
AGE 65 AND OLDER WILL TRIPLE
BETWEEN 2017 AND 2030.
HOMELESSNESS AND OLDER ADULTS
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS BLACK
ELDERS. 31% OF OLDER HOMELESS
ADULTS IN OUR STATE IDENTIFY AS
BLACK, COMPARED WITH 6% OF OLDER
ADULTS IN OUR STATE. AMONG THOSE
50 AND OLDER WHO EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS, 41% HAD NEVER
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, NOT
EVEN FOR A NIGHT BEFORE THEY
TURNED 50. THOSE WHO HAD BEEN
HOMELESS BEFORE THE AGE OF 50
AND CONTINUED HOMELESSNESS AFTER
THE AGE OF 50 HAD HAD
DEVASTATING CHILDHOODS AND LIVED
THEIR LIVES MARKED BY TRAUMA AND
STRUGGLE. THOSE WHO FIRST BECAME
HOMELESS AFTER 50 HAD VERY
DIFFERENT STORIES. THEY HAD
LIVED TYPICAL LIVES AND HAD
WORKED PHYSICALLY, DEMANDING LOW
WAGE JOBS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES
UNTIL SOMETHING DIRECTLY
DISRUPTED THEM. IN LATE LIFE.
THEY OR THEIR SPOUSE LOST THEIR
JOB OR BECAME ILL, THEIR
MARRIAGE BROKE UP, OR THEIR
SPOUSE OR PARTNER OR THEIR
PARENT DIED, AND SUDDENLY THEY
FOUND THEMSELVES HOMELESS.
UNDERLYING THE CRISIS OF OLDER
ADULT HOMELESSNESS IS THE LACK
OF HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE
AND AVAILABLE TO EXTREMELY LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. IN
CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE ONLY 24
UNITS OF HOUSING THAT'S
AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE FOR
EVERY 100 EXTREMELY LOW INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS, A DEFICIT OF A
MILLION UNITS, OLDER RENTER
HOUSEHOLDS ARE THOSE WHO ARE
MOST LIKELY TO BE COST BURDENED.
OUR TEAM FOUND THAT THE MEDIAN
MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF
OLDER ADULTS WHO BECAME HOMELESS
IN THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS
EPISODE WAS $920 A MONTH, NOT
NEARLY ENOUGH FOR THEM TO
MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING. WHETHER
ARE NEW TO HOMELESSNESS OR
HOMELESS. FOR A LONG TIME, THOSE
50 AND OLDER HAVE HEALTH STATUS
MORE SIMILAR TO PEOPLE IN THEIR
70S AND 80S AND THE GENERAL
POPULATION. A QUARTER OF OLDER
HOMELESS ADULTS. IN OUR RESEARCH
IN OAKLAND HAD INDICATORS OF A
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT 43% IN OUR
STUDY ACROSS CALIFORNIA NOTED
DIFFICULTIES WITH ONE OR MORE
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING, AND
A THIRD REPORTED MOBILITY
PROBLEMS OVER HALF REPORTED FAIR
OR POOR HEALTH. THESE ARE
DEVASTATING INDICATORS OF POOR
HEALTH. THIS LEADS ME TO SAY,
WHEN TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS,
50 IS A NEW 75. ONCE HOMELESS,
WE HAVE FOUND THAT OLDER ADULTS
HAVE DIFFICULTY EXITING
HOMELESSNESS AND MOST GO ON TO
ENTER THE CATEGORY OF CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS. OUR RESEARCHERS
FOUND THAT 80% REGAIN HOUSING
WITHIN A FEW YEARS, BUT HALF OF
THOSE RETURNED ONCE AGAIN TO
HOMELESSNESS. THE ONE THING THAT
PROTECTS THEM AGAINST RETURNING
BACK TO HOMELESSNESS IS HAVING A
HOUSING SUBSIDY. HOMELESSNESS IS
DEVASTATING TO HEALTH AND OLDER
ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
HAVE A HIGH RISK OF MORTALITY.
THREE AND A HALF TIMES THAT OF
THE GENERAL POPULATION. AMONG
HOMELESS ADULTS, 50 AND OVER,
THE MEDIAN AGE OF DEATH IS 64.
THE STATUS QUO IS SIMPLY NOT
ACCEPTABLE. TO SOLVE OLDER ADULT
HOMELESSNESS, WE MUST
DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE SUPPLY
OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
AND WE MUST FOCUS ON PREVENTION,
KEEPING THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS FROM BECOMING
HOMELESS AND THEN PREVENTING
THOSE WHO'VE RECENTLY EXITED
FROM RETURNING TO IT. WE NEED TO
ALIGN OUR SYSTEMS TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF THE OLDER ADULT
POPULATION, INCLUDING THOSE WITH
COGNITIVE, MOBILITY AND
FUNCTIONAL PROBLEMS. WE MUST BE
MORE FLEXIBLE IN HOW WE USE
MEDICAID, HOME AND COMMUNITY
BASED SERVICES TO PROVIDE
PERSONAL CARE SUPPORT. SO MANY
OF OUR ELDERS RELY ON, AND WE
HAVE TO CONTINUE TO EMBRACE
HOUSING FIRST, A FLEXIBLE
SOLUTION THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
HOUSING IS CENTRAL BY PROVIDING
PERMANENT HOUSING OPTIONS WITH
TAILORED, SUPPORTIVE, SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES, INCLUDING VOLUNTARY
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF THIS AGING
POPULATION. AND WE SHOULD CENTER
RACIAL EQUITY IN ALL WE DO. THE
AGING OF THIS POPULATION
PRESENTS US WITH STARK CHOICES,
AND WE CAN'T BE COMPLACENT AND
ALLOW OUR ELDERS TO LIVE AND DIE
ON OUR STREETS. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME, AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS LATER. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT
. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
TRÊN FONG AND I'M WITH JUSTICE
AND AGING AND I WOULD LIKE I
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME CONTEXT
ON WHO EXPERIENCES SENIOR
POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS AND
HUNGER, CALIFORNIA'S AGING. AND
BY 2030, A QUARTER OF US WILL BE
65 OR OLDER. THE OLDER ADULT
POPULATION IS ALSO BECOMING MORE
ETHNICALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE.
BY 2030, WHITE, NON-HISPANIC
OLDER ADULTS WILL NO LONGER
REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF OLDER
ADULTS IN THE STATE. 15% OF
CALIFORNIA SENIORS LIVE IN
POVERTY. TO TALK ABOUT THE
CURRENT STATE OF SENIOR POVERTY,
I WANT TO FIRST BRING US BACK TO
THE DEVASTATING CUTS MADE TO
SSI. SSP GRANTS DURING THE
RECESSION, WHICH DROPPED OVER A
MILLION SSI OLDER ADULTS AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
INTO POVERTY AS THE HOUSING
CRISIS DEEPENED AND RENTS
ESCALATED, MANY SSI RECIPIENTS
BECAME HOMELESS AND EVEN MORE
HAD TO RELY ON EMERGENCY FOOD
ASSISTANCE AS A WAY OF LIFE.
BECAUSE GRANTS WERE INSUFFICIENT
TO LAST THE MONTH. EVERY MONTH.
THIS PUT PRESSURE ON PROVIDERS
ACROSS THE HUMAN SERVICES
NETWORK AND ON LOCAL AND STATE
GOVERNMENT, AS PEOPLE HAD TO
RELY ON EXPENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY,
MEDICAL AND NURSING HOME
SERVICES THAT WOULDN'T BE NEEDED
IF GRANTS COVERED BASIC NEEDS.
WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE
LEGISLATURE AND ADMINISTRATION'S
COMMITMENT TO RESCINDING THESE
CUTS. THE RECENT GRANT INCREASES
WERE DESPERATELY NEEDED AND ARE
FINALLY BRINGING THE GRANTS BACK
. HOWEVER, THESE INCREASES
SIMPLY BRING THE INFLATION
ADJUSTED VALUE OF THE SSI GRANTS
TO SOMEWHAT ABOVE WHERE THEY
WERE AFTER THE CUTS IN 2009 AND
2011. THOSE CUTS DROPPED THE
INDIVIDUAL GRANT FROM 100.5% OF
THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, DOWN
TO 91.5. INFLATION PUSHED PEOPLE
EVEN DEEPER INTO POVERTY YEAR
AFTER YEAR, AND THEN THESE
RECENT INCREASES BROUGHT US UP
TO 94. THE CURRENT GRANT IS NOT
FAR FROM WHERE SSI INDIVIDUALS
WERE IN 2011. AFTER THE FINAL
CUT WAS MADE FOR SSI SENIORS,
THE RECESSION IS STILL NOT OVER.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BOOST THE
GRANTS AND ENSURE THAT PUBLIC
BENEFITS FOR OLDER ADULTS ARE
TRULY ADEQUATE. ADEQUATE INCOME
HELPS PEOPLE TO GET AND STAY
HOUSED IN THE FACE OF RISING
HOUSING COSTS AND FORTUNATELY,
SSI GRANTS ARE STILL TRAILING
SIGNIFICANTLY BEHIND HOUSING
COSTS. THE FAIR MARKET RENT FOR
A STUDIO APARTMENT IS MORE THAN
50% OF THE INDIVIDUAL GRANT. IN
EVERY COUNTY, AND IN 25
COUNTIES, THE FAIR MARKET RENT
IS HIGHER THAN THE ENTIRE GRANT
RENT IS UNAFFORDABLE FOR
CALIFORNIA SENIORS ACROSS THE
BOARD. ABOUT SIX OUT OF TEN
OLDER RENTER HOUSEHOLDS FACE
UNAFFORDABLE RENTS FOR EXTREMELY
LOW INCOME, OLDER RENTERS.
NEARLY EIGHT OUT OF TEN ARE RENT
BURDENED. THE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS ALSO A
PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE ALARMING
INCREASE IN OLDER ADULT
HOMELESSNESS, WHICH DOCTOR
KERSHAW DISCUSSED JUST NOW.
OLDER ADULT HOMELESSNESS IS A
PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY AND WE
SHOULD USE THE TOOLS WE HAVE TO
PREVENT IT. THE PANDEMIC CAUSED
EVEN MORE HARDSHIP. WHILE
POVERTY RATES GENERALLY
DECREASED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SENIORS WERE THE ONLY AGE GROUP
WHERE THE POVERTY RATE INCREASED
. HUNGER ALSO REMAINS HIGH, AS
OVER 1 IN 5 HOUSEHOLDS IN
CALIFORNIA ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD
INSECURITY TODAY. FOOD BANKS
CONTINUE TO FACE NEAR RECORD
DEMAND, AND MOST ARE STILL
SERVING ONE AND A HALF TIMES
MORE. COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAN
THEY WERE PRE-PANDEMIC,
INCLUDING MANY SSI, OLDER ADULTS
AND INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES. THE PANDEMIC IS
STILL NOT OVER FOR LOW INCOME
SENIORS, POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS
AND HUNGER ARE TOXIC STRESSES
AND EVEN MORE SO FOR SENIORS WHO
DISPROPORTIONATELY EXPERIENCE
THESE STRESSORS. THIS INCLUDES
PEOPLE OF COLOR, INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES, WOMEN,
IMMIGRANTS, FORMERLY
INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, AND
LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS WHO OFTEN
EXPERIENCE THE COMPOUNDED
EFFECTS OF SYSTEMIC
DISCRIMINATION ACROSS THE
LIFESPAN. WE HAVE SOLUTIONS THAT
WORK IN THE FORM OF INCOME
BENEFITS LIKE SSI, HOUSING
ASSISTANCE AND CALFRESH AND
OTHER FOOD ASSISTANCE ASSISTANCE
THAT WORK TOGETHER TO LIFT
SENIORS OUT OF POVERTY. WE WOULD
OPPOSE ANY CUTS OR DELAYS TO THE
HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS THAT
KEEP LOW INCOME SENIORS AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
AFLOAT. PEOPLE ARE BARELY MAKING
IT NOW AND CUTTING PROGRAMS THAT
HELP SENIORS OBTAIN HOUSING AND
FOOD WOULD JUST INCREASE
HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER. KEEP
OUR PROGRAMS STRONG SO THAT THE
MOST VULNERABLE CALIFORNIANS
HAVE THE HELP THEY NEED DURING
HARD TIMES. AND LET'S CONTINUE
BUILDING PUBLIC BENEFITS
PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE DIGNITY
FOR ALL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MR. CHAIR. I'M SUSAN DEMORRIS,
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING, IN RESPONSE
TO THE QUESTIONS PROVIDED TO US,
WE ARE CLOSELY TRACKING SEVERAL
TRENDS THAT WARRANT ATTENTION.
FIRST, IT IS WELL KNOWN YOU'VE
ALREADY HEARD TODAY THAT BY
2031, IN FOUR CALIFORNIANS WILL
BE AGED 60 OR OLDER, ONE FOURTH
OF OUR STATE'S POPULATION WILL
SOON BE AGE ELIGIBLE. AGE
ELIGIBLE FOR CDA PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES. AND TODAY'S POPULATION
IS LARGER, OLDER, AND
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DIVERSE THAN
50 YEARS AGO, WHEN OUR
DEPARTMENT WAS FIRST
ESTABLISHED. CDA IS PROUD TO
HAVE JUST CONCLUDED A STATEWIDE
SURVEY OF 4700 LGBTQ OLDER
ADULTS OFFERING IMPORTANT
INSIGHTS INTO THE UNIQUE NEEDS
OF THIS POPULATION. JUST ONE
EXAMPLE OF THE DIVERSITY THAT WE
ARE SEEING TODAY AMONG OUR AGING
PROGRAMS, AND WHAT WE EXPECT TO
SEE IN THE FUTURE. WHAT'S LESSER
KNOWN IS THIS THE 85 PLUS
POPULATION IS THE FASTEST
GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC IN OUR
STATE, WITH ADVANCED AGE COMES
HIGHER RATES OF DISABILITY,
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, AND
MEDICAL COMPLEXITY. AS
INDIVIDUALS AGE, THEY ARE MORE
LIKELY TO OUTLIVE THEIR SAVINGS,
DEPLETE THEIR ASSETS, AND ENTER
INTO POVERTY. THE MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING CENTERS OUR WORK IN
EQUITY WHILE POVERTY RATES HAVE
DECLINED FOR ALL POPULATIONS,
THERE'S BEEN A SLIGHT UPTICK
AMONG OLDER ADULTS OF
SIGNIFICANCE. OLDER ADULTS WHO
ARE LATINO, BLACK OR ASIAN
EXPERIENCE POVERTY AT LEAST
TRIPLE AND NEARLY QUADRUPLE THE
RATE OF OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE
WHITE. MASTER PLAN FOR AGING
GOALS ONE AND FIVE ADDRESS
HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND
AFFORDABILITY, WITH ADULTS 50
PLUS EXPERIENCING ALARMING RATES
OF FIRST TIME HOMELESSNESS, THIS
IS A PRIORITY FOCUS AREA FOR NPA
STAKEHOLDERS. CDA RECENTLY
CONVENED LOCAL, STATE AND
FEDERAL PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY
STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS TO
PREVENT AND END OLDER ADULT
HOMELESSNESS. PARTICIPANTS
IDENTIFIED THREE THEMES. FIRST,
PREVENTION. A WIDE ARRAY OF
SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE, BUT NOT
ALWAYS WELL KNOWN, COORDINATED
OR TAILORED TO OLDER ADULTS.
THIS INCLUDES ADVOCACY, LEGAL
AID, HOUSING, NAVIGATION, AND
ASSISTANCE. COMPLETING
APPLICATIONS FOR BENEFITS.
SECOND INTERVENTION CALAIM,
ENHANCED CARE MANAGEMENT AND
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS ARE PROVING
TO BE EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS
FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
PRECARIOUSLY HOUSED. LOCAL
MODELS THAT PROVIDE TEMPORARY
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS
HOME HOMESHARE PROGRAMS, HAVE
BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN KEEPING OLDER
ADULTS HOUSED. ANOTHER KEY
INTERVENTION FOR OLDER ADULTS IS
THE CRITICAL TRANSITION FROM
INSTITUTIONS BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY, WHEN INDIVIDUALS NEED
TIMELY SERVICES AND INTENSIVE
SUPPORT. THIRD, PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THE SUPPLY OF
LOW INCOME, AFFORDABLE AND
SUPPORTIVE SENIOR HOUSING IS
STEADILY INCREASING THANKS TO
INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR
AND THE LEGISLATURE. THOUGH
DEMAND WITH AN AGING POPULATION
CONTINUES TO OUTSTRIP SUPPLY.
THANK YOU TO JUSTICE AND AGING
FOR REPORTING ON THE RENT
BURDENS THAT OLDER ADULTS CARRY,
WITH RENTS CURRENTLY AVERAGING
$2,750 A MONTH IN CALIFORNIA,
NEARLY DOUBLE OR MORE THAN
DOUBLE, THE SSI BENEFIT OF
$1,183.80 $3 A MONTH. WHILE CDA
DOES NOT OFFER HOUSING PROGRAMS,
I CAN SHARE THAT ONE OF OUR
LOCAL AREA AGENCIES ON AGING
REPORTS RECEIVING 70 CALLS PER
DAY ABOUT HOUSING OPTIONS. THIS
IS CONSISTENT, CONSISTENT WITH
STATEWIDE DATA. THERE WAS A 94%
INCREASE IN OLDER ADULTS
ACCESSING HOMELESS SERVICES FROM
2017 TO 2023. WE ARE EAGER TO
LEAD CALIFORNIA'S AGING NETWORK
THROUGH THE POSITIVE CHANGES
BROUGHT ABOUT BY PROPOSITION ONE
AND THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ACT, TO ENSURE THAT OLDER ADULT
HOUSING AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED LOCALLY.
WHEN ASKED WHAT STEPS ARE
IMPERATIVE FOR THE STATE TO
TAKE, I WOULD SAY HOUSING IS
HEALTH AND FOOD IS MEDICINE.
LAST YEAR, CDA AGING NETWORK
PROVIDED NEARLY 22 MILLION HOME
DELIVERED GRAB AND GO AND
CONGREGATE MEALS. WE PARTNER
WITH DIRECTOR JOHNSON'S
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO
PROVIDE TARGETED OUTREACH TO
ENROLL OLDER ADULTS IN CALFRESH,
AND WE'VE ALLOCATED CLOSE TO $37
MILLION FOR LOCAL NUTRITION
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS SUCH AS
REFRIGERATED TRUCKS, COMMERCIAL
STOVES, FOOD PANTRIES AND WALK
IN FREEZERS. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO
THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
AND OUR PARTNERS AT C40 FOR
SECURING ROUGHLY $127 MILLION
FOR NUTRITION SERVICES AS PART
OF THE MODERNIZATION OF THE
OLDER CALIFORNIANS ACT. THIS
HELPS AVOID A NUTRITION CLIFT,
CLIFF. WHEN COVID 19 FUNDS
EXPIRE LATER THIS YEAR. IN
SUMMARY, THE MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING IS A WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT,
WHOLE OF SOCIETY APPROACH THAT
CALLS ON ALL OF US TO PRIORITIZE
AND STABILIZE VULNERABLE, OLDER
CALIFORNIANS. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR AND STAFF KIM JOHNSON,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES, AND WILL ALSO GO TO
THE QUESTIONS IN THE AGENDA AND
YOU'VE HEARD THE GROWTH. WE HAVE
THE GREAT PRIVILEGE TO WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP ACROSS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA IN ADMINISTERING SOME
PROGRAMS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND SERVE
THIS POPULATION, INCLUDING THOSE
FOCUSED ON HOUSING, IN-HOME
CARE, PROTECTION FROM ABUSE,
NUTRITION, AND LICENSED CARE. SO
I'LL GO THROUGH BOTH SOME OF THE
TRENDS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN
THOSE SPACES, AS WELL AS WHAT
EFFORTS WE HAVE UNDERWAY. YOU
HEARD FROM DOCTOR, DOCTOR
CASHELL OLDER ADULTS ARE NOW THE
FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF THE
POPULATION OF INDIVIDUAL
INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. AND WE ARE SEEING
NEED IN OUR PROGRAMS THAT SERVE
THIS POPULATION. HOUSING AND
DISABILITY ADVOCACY PROGRAM AND
HOME SAFE. WE ARE SEEING AN
INCREASE DEMAND. WE HAVE
TOGETHER THE ADMINISTRATION AND
LEGISLATURE INCREASED
INVESTMENTS IN THIS SPACE. AND
WE'RE SEEING MORE COUNTIES AS
WELL AS TRIBES, TRIBES AND
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS PARTICIPATING
IN PROVIDING THESE SERVICES IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE ALSO ECHO
THE AND ARE SEEING THE INCREASED
NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT
SUPPORTS THIS POPULATION, AND
ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH
DISABILITIES AS WELL. AND PART
OF OUR SOLUTION THAT WE'VE
WORKED ON TOGETHER IN THIS SPACE
IS THE COMMUNITY CARE EXPANSION
PROGRAM, WHICH SEEKS TO EXPAND
THE NUMBER OF BEDS OR UNITS TO
SERVE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING SSI
AND SSP AND CAPI, AND TO
PRESERVE EXISTING BEDS SERVING
THAT POPULATION. THAT ALSO, AS
YOU HEARD, DOCTOR ROCHELLE
REFERENCED THE NEED FOR SOME
SUBSIDY THAT ALSO PROVIDES AN
OPERATING SUBSIDY RESERVE FOR
THOSE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING AS
A WAY TO STABILIZE SUPPORTS TO
THIS POPULATION. FROM OUR
OVERSIGHT OF Kò PROGRAMING,
SPECIFICALLY TARGETING OLDER
ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH
DISABILITIES, WE OBSERVE THE
DEEPENED AND DIVERSE LEVEL OF
NEEDS AGAIN ACROSS THESE
POPULATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, AS YOU
KNOW, WE ADMINISTERED PROJECT
ROOMKEY DURING THE PANDEMIC,
WHICH WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
TO SUPPORT THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND ALSO AT HIGH
RISK OF SEVERE CONSEQUENCES WITH
COVID 19. OUR EVALUATION WAS
JUST RECENTLY RELEASED IN THIS
SPACE, AND PROJECT ROOMKEY
PARTICIPANTS WERE FOUND TO NEED
A HIGHER LEVEL OF MEDICAL CARE
THAN ANTICIPATED. OTHERS NEEDED
SUPPORT WITH TASKS ASSOCIATED
WITH DAILY LIVING. WE WERE ABLE
TO BE INNOVATIVE IN THAT
INITIATIVE TO HAVE SOME IN-HOME
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, SUPPORT
WORKERS IN THE HOTELS AND SPACES
THAT WERE BEING PROVIDED, THAT
WAS ALSO VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE
ALSO NOTE THAT GRANTEES OF THE
HOUSING, DISABILITY AND ADVOCACY
PROGRAM REPORT THE NEED FOR
INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICES DURING PARTICIPATION,
INCLUDING MULTI-YEAR DISABILITY
APPLICATION PROCESSING FOR
PARTICIPANTS EXCEEDING WHAT THEY
ANTICIPATED WHEN BEGAN. WHEN
THEY BEGAN. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND
OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES OFTEN FACE
UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND CAN BE
SUBJECT TO INEQUITIES IN SERVICE
DELIVERY THAT'S BEEN REFERENCED
HERE, SO NOT ALL HOMELESS
SERVICES WERE DESIGNED AND
CREATED. THINKING ABOUT THE
PARTICULARLY THE OLDER ADULT
POPULATION AND THOSE WITH
DISABILITIES IN MIND. SO FOR
INSTANCE, SHELTERS THAT CLOSED
DURING THE DAY POSED CHALLENGES
FOR OLDER ADULTS WHO NEED A SAFE
PLACE TO REST. THERE'S ALSO MORE
WORK TO DO TO ENSURE THAT
SHELTERS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO
PEOPLE WITH MORE INTENSIVE
MOBILITY NEEDS. SOME OLDER
ADULTS ARE ALSO FACING THAT
UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL
CIRCUMSTANCE AND NEED TO BRIDGE
THEIR FIXED INCOME AND HOUSING
AND COSTS FOR THOSE OLDER
ADULTS, A CONNECTION TO A
HOUSING VOUCHER OR SUBSIDY,
AGAIN, CAN BE SUFFICIENT. THOSE
WITH MORE COMPLEX NEEDS PROGRAMS
SUCH AS OUR HOME SAFE AND
HOUSING, HOUSING AND DISABILITY
ADVOCACY PROGRAM ARE NECESSARY.
THESE PROGRAMS NOT ONLY PROVIDE
SUPPORT VIA A WIDE RANGE OF
DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BUT
ADDITIONALLY INCLUDE CASE
MANAGERS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS
NAVIGATE SERVICES GOING FORWARD,
I ALSO WOULD JUST SAY, IN
ADDITION TO WHAT YOU JUST HEARD
FROM DIRECTOR DEMERS, THAT THE
INTEGRATION OF HOUSING, HEALTH
AND SOCIAL SERVICES IS WHERE
WE'RE SEEING THE MOST LONG
LASTING IMPACTS IN TERMS OF
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS WHEN THEY
ARE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO BE
WORKING IN INTEGRATED TOGETHER,
THE IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
CHAIR THAT YOU REFERENCED AT THE
TOP OF YOUR REMARKS, THE LARGEST
HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICE
PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY, IHSS, IS
ADMINISTERED, OF COURSE, THROUGH
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
DEPARTMENT COUNTIES, PROVIDING
DOMESTIC AND PERSONAL CARE
SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS
WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER
ADULTS TO KEEP THEM SAFELY IN
THEIR OWN HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
AND AVOID INSTITUTIONALIZATION.
THE DEPARTMENT'S GOING TO SPEAK
TO IHSS A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS
AFTERNOON, BUT WE CONTINUE TO
SEE A YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE
NEED AND IN BUDGET YEAR PROJECT
CASELOAD TO BE AT 691,000. IN
IHSS AND ADULT PROTECTIVE
SERVICES, WE'RE ALSO SEEING
GROWING CASELOAD. IN 2021, APS
SERVED APPROXIMATELY 147,000
CASES ARE OPENED. THOSE THAT
MANY CASES IN 2223 THAT
INCREASED TO 188,000. SO WE
AGAIN SEEING INCREASED NEED AS
IT RELATES TO FOOD AND
NUTRITION, WHICH WAS ALSO
REFERENCED BY ANOTHER PANELIST.
HERE WE SEE THAT INCREASED NEED
FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS.
ACCORDING TO THE 22 2022 USDA
ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICES
REPORT, 9.1% OF US HOUSEHOLDS
WITH ADULTS AGED 65 AND OLDER
WERE FOOD INSECURE AT SOME TIME
DURING THE YEAR. THAT'S HIGHER
THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN YEARS
PRIOR, AND AGAIN, SEE THE 65
YEAR OLD, 65 AND OLDER PROCESS
NUMBERS INCREASING OVER TIME.
CALFRESH IS THE LARGEST
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN
THE STATE AND PLAYS A CRITICAL
ROLE IN ADDRESSING HUNGER AND
FOOD SECURITY. I WANT TO SAY
THERE ARE GOOD NEWS AND BRIGHT
SPOTS IN THIS SPACE. CALFRESH
PARTICIPATION AMONG OLDER ADULTS
HAS INCREASED. 460% BETWEEN 2014
AND 2022, FROM 215,000 TO
991,000 INDIVIDUALS, BEING
SERVED. THAT'S TREMENDOUS.
THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO THE
EXPANSION OF CALFRESH TO SERVE
SSI AND SSP RECIPIENTS, AND OUR
ADDITIONAL EFFORTS LIKE
SIMPLIFYING APPLICATION
PROCESSES, AVOIDING CHURN IN THE
PROGRAM, ETC, WE ALSO ARE VERY
MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO
IMPLEMENT THE CALIFORNIA FOOD
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS
BEING EXPANDED TO SERVE ALL WHO
ARE INCOME ELIGIBLE, REGARDLESS
OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. AGE
55 AND OLDER. SET TO
OPERATIONALIZED NEXT YEAR. SO
AGAIN, IT WAS ALREADY SAID. BUT
I ALSO WOULD JUST POINT OUT, AS
WE'RE CONTINUING TO HAVE
MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO
COMMUNITY, THE EQUITY IS HOW WE
ARE LEADING. WE ARE BEING
SPECIFIC TO BE ABLE TO
DISAGGREGATE WHAT WE'RE SEEING
BY RACE AND OTHER FACTORS AS WAS
REFERENCED, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
SURE OUR OUR PROCESSES, OUR
OUTREACH STRATEGIES ARE VERY
TARGETED INTENTIONALLY ON THOSE
WE NEED HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. T I.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. WE HAVE
NOTHING TO ADD HERE. LÀ. OH,
GOOD AFTERNOON, JOHN TROTTER,
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE. SO
FIRST WE WILL NOTE THAT OVERALL,
ACROSS THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
PROPOSAL, THERE'S NOT ANY NEW
MAJOR PROPOSALS FOR OLDER ADULT
PROGRAMS. WITH THAT BEING SAID,
AS WE HAVE HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS
PANEL, MANY OF THE AGING AND
OLDER ADULT ISSUES ARE
CROSS-CUTTING IN NATURE TODAY.
THE AGENDA WILL GIVE US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS SOME
INITIATIVES THAT ARE ALREADY
UNDERWAY, INCLUDING THE MASTER
PLAN OF AGING AND THE CALIFORNIA
2030 INITIATIVE THAT ARE
BEGINNING TO ADDRESS SOME OF
THESE INTERSECTING ISSUES
AFFECTING OLDER ADULTS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THAT, THIS IS
ONE OF THOSE Kò OPPORTUNITIES.
NOW THAT AS WE START TO SEE SOME
RED FLAGS THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET AHEAD OF IT
AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BEGIN TO KNOW, WHAT'S COMING.
AND SO HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO
MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
EVERY BUDGET YEAR TO CONTINUE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FIRST,
PREVENTING MORE SENIORS FROM
BECOMING HOMELESS? BUT THEN,
NUMBER TWO, GETTING THOSE WHO
ARE IN CRISIS MODE OUT TO GET
THEM STABLE, RIGHT, WHAT DO YOU
THINK? FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW,
MY THOUGHTS IS, YOU KNOW, NEXT
YEAR WE, IT'S MY PERSONAL GOAL
TO MAKE SURE WE ACTUALLY HAVE
SOME TARGETED, LEGISLATION AND
BUDGET. BUDGET PRIORITIES
RELATING SPECIFICALLY TO, TO OUR
SENIORS TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE.
AND I BELIEVE, DIRECTOR JOHNSON,
YOU KNOW, I WHEN I WAS CHAIR OF
MY PREVIOUS, THE PREVIOUS
COMMITTEE, I DID A SERIES OF,
LISTENING SESSIONS AS WELL. AND
MY THOUGHT IS PROBABLY TO DO
SOME WIENER LISTENING SESSIONS,
SPECIFICALLY ON SENIORS FOR THIS
YEAR AND WOULD LOVE, FOR OUR
DEPARTMENT OF AGING TO BE A PART
OF THOSE LISTENING SESSIONS AS
WELL. AND THE IDEA IS, IS THAT,
YOU KNOW, IF EVERY YEAR WE'RE
NOT MOVING FORWARD, THEN IT'S A
ONE MORE YEAR THAT WE COULD HAVE
PREVENTED THAT NEXT CRISIS FROM
HAPPENING. RIGHT. AND EVEN
THOUGH WE ARE IN A VERY TOUGH,
BUDGET CYCLE, I CAN'T IMAGINE
THE AMOUNT OF COST THAT'S GOING
TO TAKE IF WE ALLOW MORE SENIORS
TO BECOME HOMELESS AND THE
MEDICAL AND DISABILITY ISSUES
THAT HAVE TO BE COVERED, ALONG
WITH NOT JUST HOUSING, BUT ALL
THOSE THINGS, THAT'S QUITE A
HOLE TO TRY TO DIG OURSELVES OUT
OF. AND SO DOES MY GOAL TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
PREVENT THAT HOLE. BUT I'M GLAD
THAT AS WE SET THIS CONTEXT IN
TERMS OF THE STATE OF OUR
SENIORS AND THE VARIOUS THINGS
THAT THEY ARE FACING, THAT
THROUGH THE THROUGH THESE
ISSUES, WE CAN ALSO BEGIN TO
HAVE SOME MORE POINTED
DISCUSSIONS IN REGARDS TO NUMBER
ONE, WHAT IS THAT NEXT STEP WE
SHOULD BE MAKING? RIGHT? GREAT
MASTER PLAN. WHAT'S THE PRIORITY
IN THAT PLAN THIS YEAR AND
WHAT'S THAT PRIORITY IN THAT
PLAN NEXT YEAR? RIGHT, WE KNOW
SSI, SSP STILL HAS NOT RECOVERED
FROM THE GREAT RECESSION IN
TERMS OF THE CUTS THAT WE MADE
BACK THEN. AND HOW DO WE GET
THERE IN TERMS OF DOING THOSE
THINGS? HOW DO WE INCORPORATE
SENIORS IN OUR GUARANTEED INCOME
PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT?
RIGHT, TO GIVE THEM MORE
FLEXIBLE MONEY FOR THEM TO BE
ABLE TO WORK WITH SO THAT IF
THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR IHSS,
THAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY MORE
DISPOSABLE INCOME TO BE ABLE TO
AFFORD THE SERVICES THEMSELVES.
RIGHT. I MEAN, ALL THOSE WHOLE
HOST OF THINGS ABOUT HOW DO WE
CONTINUE TO GIVE AGENCY TO OUR
SENIORS AND TO CREATE A TRUE
SAFETY NET, FOR OUR SENIORS SO
THAT, I MEAN, WE SHOULD BE, WE
SHOULD HAVE OF, A SYSTEM TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT IS VERY HARD FOR
SENIORS TO BE HOMELESS IN OUR
STATE. RIGHT. LIKE, IT'S AND
OBVIOUSLY WE UNFORTUNATELY, WE
DON'T THINK THEM OF THEM ENOUGH
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ALL THESE
OTHER BIG ISSUES IN TERMS OF
HOMELESSNESS AND THINGS LIKE
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE START TO FEEL
GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES. AND WE
WERE GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED AND,
YOU KNOW, HOME Kò ROOMKEY, YOU
KNOW, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. AND
THEN WE START HEARING REPORTS
ABOUT SENIORS, RIGHT, HOW ARE
HOW WERE WE MISSING THAT? SO
THANK YOU VERY, ALL VERY MUCH
FOR, SETTING THE TONE FOR TODAY.
AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO ISSUE
NUMBER TWO, ISSUE NUMBER TWO,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUSTICE AND
AGING. THANK YOU MUCH FOR
PARTICIPATING, DOCTOR CRUCIAL,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
INSIGHTS AS WELL. ISSUE NUMBER
TWO, A REVIEW OF THE MASTER PLAN
ON AGING MILESTONES AND NEAR
TERME STATE PRIORITIES FOR AGING
PROGRAMS. YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN
YOU'RE READY. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MR. CHAIR. MY NAME IS SARAH
STEINHAUSEN. I SERVE AS DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGING, DIVISION OF POLICY
RESEARCH AND EQUITY. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING ROLE
WITH FACILITATING IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING,
WHICH I WILL REFER TO AS THE MPA
, AS WELL AS OUR NEAR TO FIRM
GOALS. WHAT MAKES THE MPA UNIQUE
AND IMPACTFUL IS ITS ABILITY TO
SERVE AS A DYNAMIC, LIVING
DOCUMENT THAT DRIVES PERSON
CENTERED SYSTEM CHANGE THROUGH A
WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT AND WHOLE OF
SOCIETY. APPROACH TO PLANNING.
REFLECTING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
CROSS SECTOR PLANNING, THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGING'S ROLE IS TO
SERVE AS A CONDUIT ACROSS STATE
GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
STAKEHOLDERS AND PRIVATE
PARTNERS, AND FACILITATING
PROGRESS ACROSS THE NPA'S FIVE
BOLD GOALS AT THE START OF THE
NPA'S FOURTH YEAR, WE ARE PROUD
OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND WE
ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT TREMENDOUS
WORK LIES AHEAD TO BUILD A HOME
AND COMMUNITY CARE SYSTEM THAT
WORKS FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS,
UNDERGIRDED BY EQUITY WITH A
FOCUS ON UNDERSERVED AND
UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS,
MEANS ACHIEVING MEANINGFUL
CHANGE. RELY ON OUR COLLECTIVE
ABILITY TO ADDRESS FOUR KEY
INTERRELATED ELEMENTS, WHICH ARE
THE FOCUS OF OUR NPA EFFORTS
UNDERWAY. THESE FOUR ELEMENTS
ARE ONE. STREAMLINING
STREAMLINING NAVIGATION TWO.
ENHANCING ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THREE. SUPPORTING OUR
WORKFORCE, AND FOUR ADDRESSING
SYSTEM FINANCING. I WILL NOW
SPEAK TO OUR EFFORTS UNDERWAY IN
THESE FOUR AREAS. FIRST,
STREAMLINING NAVIGATOR THÀNH.
IT'S OFTEN DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE
TO FIND THE INFORMATION THEY
NEED TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES
REGARDING THEIR NEEDS AS THEY
AGE. WITHOUT A KNOWN PLACE TO GO
FOR INFORMATION AND SUPPORT
PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE OFTEN LEFT
WITHOUT MEANINGFUL CHOICES,
MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND
WHAT IT IS, WHAT IS NEEDED TO
HELP THEM REMAIN AT HOME AND IN
THE COMMUNITY. EARLIER THIS
MONTH, CALIFORNIA KICKED OFF THE
STATE'S NO WRONG DOOR LEADERSHIP
COUNCIL TO DEVELOP PROTOCOLS AND
TOOLS NEEDED TO BETTER
STREAMLINE ACCESS TO INFORMATION
AND SUPPORT. ULTIMATELY, THROUGH
A NO WRONG DOOR APPROACH, WE
HOPE TO ESTABLISH A WEB PORTAL,
A STATEWIDE WEB PORTAL AND CALL
CENTER THAT PROVIDES STREAMLINED
ACCESS TO LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND
STATEWIDE INFORMATION. THIS
EFFORT WILL HELP SIMPLIFY HOW
PEOPLE ACCESS THE INFORMATION
THEY NEED TO MAKE INFORMED
CHOICES AS THEY AGE. SECOND,
ACCESS TO PROGRAM AND SERVICES.
EVEN IF WE BETTER STREAMLINE HOW
PEOPLE NAVIGATE SERVICES, WE
NEED TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE CAN
ACCESS THE SERVICES THEY NEED
WHEN THEY NEED THEM. HOWEVER
MANY WHO ARE IN NEED OF SERVICES
CANNOT ACCESS THEM FOR A RANGE
OF REASONS, INCLUDING LACK OF
AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES OR LONG
WAIT LISTS. TO ADDRESS THIS,
CALIFORNIA HAS LAUNCHED THE HOME
AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES GAP
ANALYSIS AND MULTI-YEAR ROADMAP
TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THERE ARE
GAPS IN SERVICES ACROSS THE
STATE, HOW THIS COMPARES WITH
OUR DEMOGRAPHIC MIX ACROSS ALL
OF OUR COUNTIES, AND TO DEVELOP
A PATH FORWARD FOR STATEWIDE
ACCESS TO SERVICES. THIS
ENHANCED ACCESS TO SERVICES ALSO
INCLUDES ADDRESSING THE HOUSING
CRISIS, IMPACTING OLDER ADULTS,
A KEY TO ADVANCING NPA GOALS IS
TO IS IDENTIFYING MORE HOUSING
OPTIONS AND ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS AMONG OLDER ADULTS.
AS YOU HEARD IN THE TESTIMONY
FROM DIRECTORS DEMAURICE AND
JOHNSON, THIS ISSUE REMAINS
FRONT AND CENTER OF OUR NPA
EFFORTS. THIRD, SUPPORTING THE
WORKFORCE. THE NPA ELEVATES THE
IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING
CALIFORNIA'S DIRECT CARE
WORKFORCE, INCLUDING BOTH THE
PAID DIRECT CARE WORKERS AND
CALIFORNIA'S APPROXIMATE 5
MILLION UNPAID FAMILY CAREGIVERS
, BOTH OF WHOM ARE THE LINCHPIN
TO OUR SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE
STATE HAS MADE UNPRECEDENTED
INVESTMENTS TO MEET THE GROWING
NEEDS OF OUR DIRECT CARE
WORKFORCE THROUGH SEVERAL
SEVERAL INITIATIVES THAT SEEK TO
BUILD THE WORKFORCE PIPELINE, AN
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DIRECT
CARE WORKERS NEEDED TO CARE FOR
OUR GROWING AGING POPULATION AND
IMPLEMENT TRAINING AND
INCENTIVES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
PARTNER WITH OUR CAL, HHS, AND
LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AGENCY PARTNERS TO
ADVANCE THESE INITIATIVES.
FOURTH, AND FINALLY, IS
ADDRESSING SYSTEM FINANCING
CALIFORNIA CONFRONTS MANY
CHALLENGES IN HOW TO FINANCE
LONG TERME SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
MEDICARE DOES NOT PAY FOR THE
DAY TO DAY HELP THAT PEOPLE NEED
AND MOST PEOPLE END UP PAYING
OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE SERVICES
, WHICH IS COST PROHIBITIVE AND
CREATES A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL
AND SOCIAL BURDEN FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AS THEY
AGE. IN RESPONSE, THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGING IS LEADING ACROSS A
CROSS-AGENCY $85 MILLION LTS
FINANCING INITIATIVE, WHICH WILL
FIRST OUTLINE THE DATA FOCUSED
ON THE CURRENT AND PROJECTED
FUTURE NEEDS OF THE OLDER ADULT
POPULATION IN CALIFORNIA.
SECOND, CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES
TO LEVERAGE MEDICARE TO PAY FOR
SPECIFIED HOME AND COMMUNITY
BASED SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE
INELIGIBLE FOR MEDI-CAL. AND
THREE IDENTIFY A COMPREHENSIVE
SET OF SUSTAINABLE POLICY
SOLUTIONS FOR THE SOLUTIONS FOR
THE LEGISLATURE AND
ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION'S
CONSIDERATION THAT REPORT WILL
BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE
IN JUNE 2026. IN CLOSING,
THROUGH THE NPA'S SYSTEM CHANGE
FRAMEWORK, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
LEGISLATURE, THE STATE, LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO
ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF TODAY'S
OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND CAREGIVERS, AND
BUILD A SYSTEM FOR THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN,
CHAIR AND STAFF KIM JOHNSON,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. WE ARE PROUD TO BE A
PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS IN ACTUALIZING OVER
THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE
REALIZATION OF THE MASTER PLAN
ON AGING AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES ACTUALLY HAS
PROGRAMS IN EVERY SINGLE GOAL
AREA THAT'S OUTLINED IN PAGE 11
OF YOUR AGENDA. WE'VE ALSO BEEN
ACTIVE PARTNERS IN THE ONGOING
WORK GROUPS LED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGING, INCLUDING
THE DISABILITY AND AGING
COMMUNITY LIVING ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND THE ELDER AND
DISABILITY JUSTICE COORDINATING
COUNCIL. IN ADDITION TO OUR WORK
WITH THE CALIFORNIA INTERAGENCY
COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. AND I
WANT TO JUST TELL YOU, RIGHT, WE
HAVE PLANS AND ACTIONS AND STEPS
IN. MASTER PLAN ON AGING. WE
ALSO HAVE THEM IN THE
INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON
HOMELESSNESS. OUR AND WE HAVE
THEM IN THE WHAT WE REFERENCE AS
THE DAC LACK THE DISABILITY AND
AGING COMMUNITY LIVING ADVISORY.
SO THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE
WE ARE BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT
INTEGRATING AGAIN, THESE THESE
COMPONENTS AND LEVERAGING EACH
OTHER IN TERMS OF THE
COMPOSITION OF THIS, ANY
PARTICULAR GROUP AND THEIR
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE. SO I'M
JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT, GIVEN
THAT WE HAVE AREA WORK IN EACH
OF THE AREAS, I'M GOING TO GIVE
YOU AN EXAMPLE IN EACH OF THE
GOAL AREAS. GOAL ONE HOUSING.
AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THAT. AND CERTAINLY IN THE FIRST
PANEL AGAIN I'LL JUST REFERENCE
THE COMMUNITY CARE EXPANSION
PROGRAM $860 MILLION INVESTMENT
TO EXPAND AND PRESERVE
APPROXIMATELY 7000 BEDS OR UNITS
TO SERVE LOW INCOME, OLDER
ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES ON SSI, SSP AND
CAPI. AND AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO
HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR
LATEST WORK IN IMPLEMENTING THAT
LATER IN YOUR IN YOUR PANELS
THIS AFTERNOON. GOAL TWO HEALTH
REIMAGINED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
CARE LICENSING DIVISION OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT
HAS UNDERTAKEN A MULTI-YEAR
EFFORT TO UPDATE OUR REGULATIONS
FOR PROVIDING DEMENTIA CARE IN
LICENSED RESIDENTIAL CARE
FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY OR
RSFS IN COLLABORATION WITH,
AGAIN, OUR INTERESTED PARTNERS
AND PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS.
THOSE REGULATIONS ARE CURRENTLY
IN THE FORMAL RULEMAKING PROCESS
AND WILL BE PROMULGATED LATER
THIS YEAR IN THE UPDATED
REGULATIONS REALLY HELP ENSURE
THAT ALL OF THE LICENSED
SETTINGS ARE MEETING THE NEEDS
OF RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA. GOAL
THREE EQUITY AND INCLUSION, NOT
ISOLATION. GOAL THREE
ENCOMPASSES A NUMBER OF
INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THOSE
FOCUSED ON ELDER JUSTICE. AS OF
JANUARY 1ST OF 2022, WE CHANGED
THE DEFINITION OF ELDER,
DECREASING THE AGE FROM 65 TO
60, AND OUR ADULT PROTECTIVE
SERVICES PROGRAM. THE EXPANSION
HAS OBVIOUSLY INCREASED. THE
NUMBER THEN OF VULNERABLE AND
INDIVIDUALS SERVED IN THAT
PROGRAM AND IN ORDER TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF THAT EXPANDED
POPULATION, WE'VE ALSO BEEN
PROVIDING TRAINING TO ALL SOCIAL
WORKERS WORKING ON APPS FOR
DECISIONAL INTERVIEWING FOR
DECISIONAL ABILITIES,
ESSENTIALLY A TOOL THAT ALLOWS
THE SOCIAL WORKER TO ASSESS THE
CLIENT'S ABILITY TO APPRECIATE
THE BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL
CONSEQUENCES OF ANY DECISION
THAT THEY'RE MAKING. SO WE'VE
143 HAVE COMPLETED THE TRAINING,
WITH MORE THAN 500 SOCIAL
WORKERS HAVING EXPRESSED
INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN
COMING MONTHS IN GOAL FOUR FOR
WORKFORCE IN OCTOBER OF 2022, WE
IMPLEMENTED THE CAREER PATHWAYS
PROGRAM. YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO
HEAR ABOUT THIS LATER ON YOUR
AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS IS A
NEW STATEWIDE TRAINING PROGRAM
FOR IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
WORKERS AND WP PCS WORKERS
THAT'S MEANT TO INCREASE THE
QUALITY OF CARE, TO ASSIST WITH
RECRUITING AND RETAINING
PROVIDERS, AND PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO ADVANCE THEIR
CAREER THROUGH TRAINING. VERY
WELL RECEIVED. AS OF MARCH OF
THIS YEAR, THE PROGRAM HAS HELD
MORE THAN 12,000 CLASSES
ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 18,000
PROVIDERS. AND AGAIN, YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT
SHORTLY. AND THEN FINALLY IN
GOAL FIVE, AFFORDING AGING,
THERE'S BEEN A CONTINUED
INVESTMENT IN THE SSP GRANT
AMOUNTS THAT YOU HEARD IN THE
PREVIOUS PANEL, WITH AN INCREASE
IN JANUARY OF 2023, OF $150
MILLION, RESULTING IN A 10.3%
INCREASE, AS WELL AS AN INCREASE
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR OF $146
MILLION, RESULTING IN A 9.2%
INCREASE TO FURTHER SUPPORT
SUPPORT OLDER ADULTS ON SSI. SSP
IN 2019, AGAIN, THE CALFRESH
EXPANDED, CALFRESH WAS EXPANDED
TO SSI RECIPIENTS AND ARE
ELIGIBLE AND WE'RE DOING
ADDITIONAL OUTREACH TO REACH
THAT POPULATION. AS OF JANUARY
OF THIS YEAR, THE AVERAGE
CALFRESH BENEFIT AMOUNT FOR AN
SSI SSP HOUSEHOLD IS $133 A
MONTH. IT'S ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
GOING INTO THE FAMILY. OVER THE
COMING TWO YEARS. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL OF THE
SIGNIFICANT ONE TIME AND ONGOING
FUNDING FOR INITIATIVE
INITIATIVES I JUST DESCRIBED, AS
WELL AS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND
STRENGTHEN OUR BACKUP PROVIDER
SYSTEM FOR IHSS, THE HOUSING AND
DISABILITY AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM,
AND HOME SAFE, AS WELL AS,
AGAIN, AS I REFERENCED, THE
EXPANSION OF THE CALIFORNIA FOOD
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE'LL ALSO
HAVE IMPLEMENTED A NEW LICENSING
CATEGORY FOR MEDICAL FOSTER
HOMES FOR VETERANS. THAT'S A NEW
INITIATIVE THAT WE ALSO HAVE
GOING FORWARD. SO I JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT AGAIN, ALL OF OUR WORK
IS LED AND INFORMED BY
COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE ALSO LOOKING
FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING WITH
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
AGING LATER THIS YEAR TO LOOK AT
FROM HEAR FROM COMMUNITY ON
WHERE WE'RE FOCUSING GOING
FORWARD. IN ADDITION TO WHAT
I'VE OUTLINED HERE THIS
AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND STAFF.
YASMIN PELLET, ON BEHALF OF
JUSTICE AND AGING, WE WERE A
MEMBER OF THE MPA STAKEHOLDER
ADVISORY COMMITTEE DURING THE
CREATION OF THE PLAN, AND
SEVERAL JUSTICE AND AGING STAFF
SIT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION
COMMITTEES. WE APPRECIATE THE
ONGOING COMMITMENT FROM THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENTING
THE MPA. AND SINCE THE PLAN WAS
RELEASED, WE HAVE SEEN PROGRESS
AND INVESTMENTS IN THE SYSTEMS
AND SERVICES THAT OLDER ADULTS
AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
RELY ON. HOWEVER, NOW, WITH THE
STATE FACING SIGNIFICANT BUDGET
DEFICITS AND BEING ALMOST
HALFWAY THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE MPA, WE'RE AT A REALLY
CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN NO
UNCERTAIN TERMS. WE CANNOT
ACCEPT ANY CUTS TO PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AS
YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE PANEL
BEFORE ME, THE STATE OF OLDER
ADULT POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS AND
HUNGER IS IN A REALLY DIRE
SITUATION. ANY CUTS TO THESE
PROGRAMS IS A DIRECT AFFRONT TO
THE GOALS OF THE MPA, AND THE
PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE THUS
FAR. SO TO ANSWER THE QUESTION
THAT I WAS ASKED, WHERE ARE WE
GOING FROM HERE? WE URGE THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION TO FOCUS ON TWO
OF THE LARGEST ISSUES FACING
OLDER ADULTS. FIRST IS
SIGNIFICANTLY INVESTING IN A
HOME CARE SYSTEM, AND THE SECOND
IS PREVENTING AND ENDING OLDER
ADULT HOMELESSNESS. AS DOCTOR
KUCHEL TOLD YOU, ALL THE FACTS
ABOUT OLDER ADULT HOMELESSNESS,
SO I DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT
EVERYTHING SHE SAID. BUT I THINK
ONE FACT BEARS REPEATING. AND
DIRECTOR JOHNSON ALSO REPEATED
IT THAT OLDER ADULTS ARE THE
FASTEST GROWING POPULATION.
THÀNH OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN THE STATE. THIS
IS A TRAVESTY AND JUST LOOK AT
OUR HISTORY. WE SENT 1 MILLION
OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES INTO POVERTY IN THE
LAST RECESSION. THAT'S
DEPLORABLE. I WE CANNOT BE IN A
SITUATION WHERE THAT HAPPENS
AGAIN. WE CANNOT BE SURPRISED BY
WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES NOW,
WHEN THAT THOSE WERE THE CUTS
THAT WERE MADE IN 2009 AND 2011.
IT'S A DIRECT REFLECTION ON THE
POLICY CHOICES THAT THIS STATE
MADE. AND WE HAVE TO DO
EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO
REVERSE THAT ONE PROVEN METHOD
TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS IS TO
PROVIDE RENT SUBSIDIES. THIS IS
WHY JUSTICE AND AGING AND OUR
PARTNERS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING
FOR A TARGETED RENTAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE
MOST AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, DESPITE THE BUDGET
SURPLUS OF THE LAST FEW YEARS.
AND THIS CLEAR TREND IN OLDER
ADULT HOMELESSNESS, THERE HAVE
BEEN VERY FEW TARGETED
INVESTMENTS IN PREVENTING AND
ENDING OLDER ADULT HOMELESSNESS.
YOU'LL HEAR LATER IN THE HEARING
ABOUT TWO PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY
ARE TARGETED TO OLDER ADULTS,
WHICH IS HOME SAFE, AND ADAP,
WHICH THE DIRECTOR HAS ALREADY
MENTIONED. HOWEVER, THE
GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET
PROPOSES TO DELAY THESE FUNDS.
THIS IS MISGUIDED AND WE THINK
THIS WILL SET BACK THESE LIMITED
BUT SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. RAIMES
THE OTHER CRISIS THE STATE IS
EXPERIENCING, WHICH WILL ONLY
WORSEN AS OUR STATE AGES, IS
THAT WE DO NOT HAVE AN
ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE OR
COMPREHENSIVE LONG TÂM CARE
SYSTEM. THE MAJORITY OF OLDER
ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES WANT TO LIVE AT
HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT
TOO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE
ACCESS TO OR CANNOT AFFORD THE
HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED CARE
THAT THEY WANT. WE REALIZE THAT
THE FUNDING IS NOT AVAILABLE IN
THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR, AND THE
REALITY IS THAT IT WON'T BE
AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT BUDGET
YEAR OR THE BUDGET YEAR AFTER
THAT. IF WE ARE NOT WORKING
RIGHT NOW TO CREATE A PLAN THAT
GENERATES REVENUE IN THE FUTURE
TO FUND A HOME CARE SYSTEM THAT
REALLY WORKS FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS, HOME CARE AND HOME
CARE FINANCING NEEDS TO BECOME A
FOCUS OF THE NPA AND FOR THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION. IF WE'RE GOING
TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE BY
2030, WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE
THAT THE BUDGET DEFICIT OF THIS
YEAR AND POTENTIALLY FUTURE
YEARS ARE A MAJOR CHALLENGE IN
MAKING THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE
NEED. HOWEVER, WE ARE UP AGAINST
THE CLOCK. THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF
THE STATE ARE RAPIDLY CHANGING,
AND WE NEED TO AGGRESSIVELY
INVEST IN THE SYSTEMS THAT WILL
SUPPORT OLDER AND DISABLED
ADULTS. MANY OF THE NPA
INVESTMENTS WERE ONE TIME STATE
FUNDS OR FEDERAL FUNDS, AND SO
WE MUST ENSURE THAT FUTURE
INVESTMENTS ARE ONGOING AND
SUSTAINABLE FOR THE STATE. IN
THE LONG TERME WE STARTED THE
HEARING GOING DOWN MEMORY LANE
OF THE CATASTROPHIC CUTS IN 2009
AND 2011. LET'S LEAVE THAT PART
OF HISTORY IN THE PAST AND USE
THE NPA TO ENSURE THAT
CALIFORNIA IS A STATE THAT WE
CAN ALL AGE WELL IN. THANK YOU
AND FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. NOTHING
TO ADD. LÀ Ó JONES, LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE. WE HAVE
NOTHING MORE TO ADD AT THIS TIME
. MY QUESTIONS ARE, CENTERED
AROUND, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT THE, MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING, AND EVEN WITH THE
PROGRAMS THAT DD DSS PROVIDES.
BUT WHAT SHOULD WE HOPE TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR ON BEHALF
OF Ã, ON BEHALF OF SENIORS,
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THAT'S A
WONDERFUL QUESTION, I WOULD SAY
THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, LOOKING
AT THE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE
UNDERWAY, WE ARE TRYING TO
ADVANCE ALL OF THOSE INITIATIVES
SO THAT WE CAN BRING THEM, YOU
KNOW, TO FRUITION AND THAT A LOT
OF OUR EFFORTS RIGHT NOW ARE
THEY'RE FOCUSED ON EITHER
DELIVERING IN PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES AND SEEING WHAT NEEDS
TO BE DONE TO PREPARE FOR THE
FUTURE. AND THREE, COMMUNICATING
WITH THE PUBLIC AND POLICY
MAKERS ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED. SO,
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING OUR
LONG TUM CARE SYSTEM FINANCING,
THAT IS CRITICAL. AS, YASMEEN
NOTED AND IT DOES TAKE THE
THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE
DATA TRENDS ARE NOW AND INTO THE
FUTURE SO THAT WE CAN
THOUGHTFULLY PREPARE AND OUTLINE
A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF POLICY
SOLUTIONS. SO THAT IS ONE
PARTICULAR EFFORT THAT WE ARE
FOCUSING VERY, VERY MUCH
ATTENTION ON. SECOND, WE ARE
WORKING TOWARDS THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS STATEWIDE
HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED
SERVICES GAP ANALYSIS AND
ROADMAP. THE IMPORTANT PART OF
THIS GAP ANALYSIS IS THE ROADMAP
FORWARD. SO I THINK SOMETHING
IT'S VERY UNDERSTANDABLE THAT
THERE'S A DESIRE TO SEE THE
OUTCOMES RIGHT NOW. BUT WHAT WE
CAN'T DO IS THROW MONEY AT A
BROKEN SYSTEM. SO WE'RE TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY NEEDS
TO BE DONE TO FIX THE SYSTEM.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE ARGUMENTS
FOR HOW TO FUND IT. TARGETED
INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO
SHORE UP THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR
SYSTEM. SO THOSE ARE A FEW OF
THE EXAMPLES. I'M HAPPY TO
PROVIDE MORE SPECIFICS ACROSS
THE FIVE GOLD BOLD GOAL AREAS.
IF YOU'D LIKE, AND THEN CHAIR
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. AS YOU'VE HEARD ME
SAY, YOU KNOW, INCREASED FOOD
ACCESS, RIGHT? YOU GAVE YOU THE
NUMBER OVER A LONGER TIME
HORIZON. BUT WE ARE STILL DOING
ADDITIONAL WORK ON SIMPLIFYING
APPLICATIONS AND ACCESS TO
CALFRESH, FOR EXAMPLE. SO SEEING
INCREASED UTILIZATION OF
CALFRESH WOULD BE VERY
SPECIFICALLY WHAT I WOULD EXPECT
TO SEE ALSO, OBVIOUSLY INCREASE
ACCESS TO HOUSING SUPPORTS
THROUGH THE VARIOUS HOUSING
PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE. AND
AGAIN, IN IN PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION WITH THE SAFETY
NET CONNECTION, THE CASE
MANAGEMENT AND CONNECTION TO
OTHER SERVICES, ALSO THE
STABILITY OF THE IHSS WORKFORCE
AND UPSKILLING. RIGHT. THAT'S
THE WHOLE POINT OF THE CAREER
PATHWAYS PROGRAM IS BOTH TO DO
ADDITIONAL KIND OF COMPETENCY
AND SKILLS BASED WORK FOR
EXISTING PROVIDERS, BRING MORE
IN, AND ALSO, AGAIN, HELP PEOPLE
WHO MAYBE HAVE BEEN IN THAT
FIELD MOVE ON INTO THEIR HIGHER
LEVEL ADVANCED HEALTH CARE
SPACE. BUT ALSO, I WOULD SAY IN
TERMS OF WHAT NOT ONLY IS THEN
THE RECIPIENT OF IHSS RECEIVING
KIND OF A HIGHER LEVEL OF
SUPPORT, BUT ALSO WITH THE
BACKUP PROVIDER SYSTEM
CONTINUING, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO
BE ABLE TO, IF THAT IHSS
PROVIDER HAS HAS A NEED TO, NOT
NOT BE THERE AT ANY POINT IN
TIME. WE HAVE AVAILABILITY AND
ACCESSIBLE BACKUP PROVIDERS IN A
MUCH BETTER WAY THAN WE HAVE
TODAY. SO THOSE ARE SOME VERY
SPECIFIC, THINGS THAT WE EXPECT
TO SEE THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, WHEN
I THINK ABOUT ISSUES, DEALING
WITH SENIORS, WE ALSO IT REMINDS
ME OF THE DEBATES WE ALWAYS HAVE
AND HOW WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS
THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WHAT,
DEPARTMENT OF AGING, WHAT YOU'RE
OUTLINING IS KIND OF HOW DO WE
ASSESS AND BUILD THE
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE LONG
TERME, RIGHT. BUT THEN AT THE
SAME TIME, I'M ALWAYS, I'M
ALWAYS CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT
DOING ENOUGH TO STABILIZE THE
CURRENT POPULATION. NOW AT THE
SAME TIME. AND BY THE TIME WE'RE
DONE AND I THINK YOU SAID 2026,
YOU'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A REPORT
OUT Ã JUNE OF 2026, A REPORT
ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS AND THINGS
THAT WE COULD BE DOING. YES FOR
THE LONG TUM CARE FINANCING
ISSUE. BUT THEN FOR OUR OUR HOME
AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES GAP
ANALYSIS WILL BE OUT NEXT SUMMER
2025. OKAY. BUT THEN IN THE
MEANTIME, WE POSSIBLY HAVE A
GROWING NUMBER OF SENIORS WHO
ARE NOW BECOMING UNSTABLE,
RIGHT? SO THE QUESTION BECOMES,
CAN WE DO BOTH? YEAH AND WHAT
I'M HEARING IS WHAT SENIORS
NEED, RIGHT NOW ARE THINGS LIKE
RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO STAY IN
THEIR HOMES. NOW AND WHAT I'M
ALSO HEARING IS THE, THE ABILITY
TO FIND PLACES SUCH AS HOW WE
WERE, HOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON
ROOM Kò TO FOR THOSE WHO, HAVE
ALREADY LOST THEIR HOMES OR
THEIR PLACE OF DWELLING, THAT WE
HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO THAT
MEETS THEIR NEEDS, AND THE WHOLE
WRAPAROUND MEANING WITH THAT
COMES MEDICAL SERVICES, POSSIBLY
DISABILITY ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES
AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, CAN WE
EXPECT NUMBER ONE, ARE WE, HAS
THE GOVERNOR ALREADY PROPOSED?
AND MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION
FROM DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I'M
NOT SURE, IS ARE WE PROPOSING
ANYTHING? HAVE WE ALREADY HAS
THE GOVERNOR ALREADY PROPOSED
AND THE JANUARY BUDGET, OR DO
YOU FORESEE HIM, PROPOSING
ANYTHING AS WE HEAD INTO THE MAY
REVISE THAT WILL HELP US DEAL
WITH THE ISSUES OF, HOUSING
SUBSIDIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE, STABILIZING OUR CURRENT
POPULATION. NOW I'M GLAD JUST
VERY QUICKLY, AND YOU'RE GOING
TO HEAR ABOUT THIS IN JUST A
MOMENT, BUT THE COMMUNITY CARE
EXPANSION PROGRAM IS
SPECIFICALLY INCLUDING AN
OPERATING SUBSIDY COMPONENT FOR
THOSE THAT ARE RESIDING AND
LIVING IN ADULT AND SENIOR CARE
SETTINGS. RIGHT. FOR IN OUR SSI,
SSDI RECIPIENTS. SO IT'S VERY,
VERY TARGETED AND SPECIFIC
THERE. RIGHT REALLY
ACKNOWLEDGING WE'VE DONE QUITE A
BIT OF RESEARCH AND SURVEYING
WHEN AN ADULT AND SENIOR CARE
SETTING GOES OUT OF BUSINESS,
WHAT WERE THE REASONS THAT
CAUSED THEM TO GO OUT OF
BUSINESS? PART OF THAT WAS
OPERATING DOLLARS AND RESOURCES,
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE SERVING THE
SSI, SSP POPULATION. SO THAT'S
THAT WAS A VERY INTENTIONAL ADD
AS A COMPONENT OF COMMUNITY CARE
EXPANSION TO ADDRESS THAT.
THAT'S NOT UNIVERSAL, BUT IT IS
CERTAINLY MEETING THE NEEDS OF
THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THAT IN
THAT PURVIEW. AND I ALSO JUST
WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE
IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID
IS WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE NPA
IMPLEMENTATION, ON MEETING THE
NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND CAREGIVERS
NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. SO I
APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.
WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION OF
DOING ONE OR THE OTHER. SO TO
THAT EXTENT, WE ARE VERY PROUD
OF THE ONE TIME OR OF THE
INVESTMENTS TO DATE TO ADVANCE
THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING ACROSS
THE FIVE BOLD GOALS $9.5 BILLION
TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING
OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND CAREGIVERS.
HOWEVER WE KNOW THAT A LOT MORE
NEEDS TO BE DONE, AS HAS BEEN
DISCUSSED. SO YEAH, ON THE ISSUE
OF RENTAL SUBSIDIES, RECOGNIZE
THIS AS A BUDGET COMMITTEE, BUT
THERE IS A POLICY BILL, SB 37,
BY SENATOR CABALLERO, WHICH IS A
TARGETED RENTAL SUBSIDY, AND WE
TOOK AMENDMENTS TO CUT IT DOWN
TO BE A PILOT PROGRAM IN 3 TO 5
COUNTIES. UNDERSTANDING THE
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS THIS YEAR
AND THE DIFFICULTY OF
POTENTIALLY BEING ABLE TO DO A
STATEWIDE PROGRAM. BUT THAT BILL
IS MOVING FORWARD. THIS YEAR,
AND TO SPEAK TO CCE, I THINK
WE'RE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN
HOW CCE CAN BE USED TO LEVERAGE
MORE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING OPTIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS
AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
BUT I THINK TO YOUR POINT,
PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THEIR
HOMES. WE WANT TO PREVENT PEOPLE
ENDING UP IN HOMELESSNESS. CCE
IS GREAT, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, RESTORING OUR CDFIS
BOARD AND CARE FACILITIES. AND
WE DON'T WANT SORT OF OLDER
ADULTS WHO HAVE STABLE HOUSING,
BUT SORT OF ARE PRECARIOUSLY
HOUSED TO HAVE TO MOVE INTO A
BOARDING CARE FACILITY OR AN RCF
IF THEY COULD STAY IN THEIR
HOMES, IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WITH
JUST A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS
MORE IN A RENTAL SUBSIDY. SO WE
THINK IT'S A BOTH AND APPROACH.
WE NEED PROGRAMS LIKE CCE, BUT
BUT RENTAL SUBSIDIES ARE VERY
CLEARLY, SUCCESSFUL. THERE'S
BEEN SOME COUNTY PROGRAMS ACROSS
THE STATE, MOST NOTABLY IN SAN
DIEGO, HAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL
COUNTY PROGRAM IN PROVIDING
RENTAL SUBSIDIES TO OLDER
ADULTS, AND SO I THINK WHEN YOU
ASK WHAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO
THIS YEAR CONCRETELY RENTAL
SUBSIDIES IS SOMETHING THAT CAN
BE CONCRETELY DONE. IF THE STATE
WANTED TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT,
ARE YOU SEEING ANY RED FLAGS
WHEN IT COMES TO THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PROPOSAL AS OF JANUARY?
WELL, I THINK THE ONE OF THE
MOST ALARMING DELAYS, CUTS,
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, IS
THE HOME SAFE AND ADAP DELAYS,
WHICH I KNOW WILL BE DISCUSSED
LATER ON IN THE IN THE AGENDA.
BUT I THINK GENERALLY WE WERE
PLEASED THAT THERE WEREN'T MAJOR
CUTS LIKE THERE WERE IN 2009,
2011 TO, PROGRAMS THAT OLDER
ADULTS RELY ON. HOWEVER, WE ARE
REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MAY
REVISE. I MEAN, I WON'T PUT IT
LIGHTLY. ALL THE SIGNALS COMING
FROM EVERYWHERE IS THAT THERE
ARE MORE CUTS COMING AT. AND AT
SOME POINT, OLDER ADULT PROGRAMS
ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, ARE
GOING TO BE IN THE DISCUSSION
AND YOU KNOW, LIKE I LIKE I
SAID, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID
BEFORE ME, WE'RE JUST COMING OUT
OF THE RECESSION. OLDER ADULT,
THERE ARE SOME OLDER ADULT
PROGRAMS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FULLY
RESTORED SINCE THE RECESSIONS.
THE CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTERS
HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY RESTORED
SINCE THE CUTS THAT THEY
RECEIVED IN THE LAST RECESSION.
AND SO AND THOSE ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE,
YOU KNOW, SUPPORT TO FAMILY,
UNPAID FAMILY CAREGIVERS THAT
ARE DOING THE REAL DIFFICULT
WORK OF TAKING CARE OF THEIR
LOVED ONES. AND SO IF I THINK
ABOUT ALL OF THE CUTS THAT COULD
BE COMING, IT MAKES IT KEEPS ME
UP AT NIGHT. YOU AND ME BOTH. IF
I MAY. OH, SURE, TY LARA
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. JUST
WANTED TO REITERATE THAT, YOU
KNOW, INVESTMENTS IN, OLDER
CALIFORNIANS AND HOUSING FOR
OLDER CALIFORNIANS IS ABSOLUTELY
ADMINISTRATION PRIORITY. AS
EVIDENCED IN MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING, ONE OTHER, SPECIFIC
PROGRAM I WANTED TO THROW OUT
THERE. DIRECTOR DMORRIS,
MENTIONED, ENHANCED CARE
MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY
SUPPORTS SOME PROGRAMING THAT IS
THROUGH THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM, SO
FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE MEDI-CAL
PROGRAM, ONE OF THOSE SPECIFIC
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS IS
TRANSITIONAL RENT AND SUPPORT
WITH, RENT THAT CAN GO FOR THOSE
POPULATIONS. AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT'S MAINTAINED IN
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. I WOULD
HAVE MY SPECIFIC ASK, OF THE
ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. IT'S JUST
TO MAKING SURE THAT AS WE HE
THINKS ABOUT, THE MAY REVISE
THAT WE BEGIN TO I THINK, WE'RE
I'M HEARING LOUD AND CLEAR THE
IDEA OF MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S
AMPLE AMOUNT OF TYPE OF, RENTAL
ASSISTANCE OR SUBSIDIES TO BE
ABLE TO KEEP, SENIORS IN THEIR
HOMES CURRENTLY. NOW I THINK
SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT, WE
NEED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT, AS
WE GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET
PROCESS, THAT WE'RE ALSO JUST
MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT, THAT
WE'RE FULLY ADDRESSING THAT THE
BEST THAT WE CAN. OF COURSE. BUT
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS
ONE OF THE CORNERSTONE OF WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, THIS
YEAR IN THE BUDGET, WHEN IT
COMES TO COMES TO OUR SENIORS,
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE MASTER
PLAN AND OF COURSE, YOU'RE, THE,
DEPARTMENT OF AGING, YOU ARE IN
A, INTERESTING TIMELINE BECAUSE,
OF COURSE, AS WE HAVE THE NEXT
TWO YEARS, OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION, HOW DO WE ENSURE
THAT NUMBER ONE, THAT THE, WE
START TO GET AS DETAILED AS
POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF MILESTONES,
THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO
ACCOMPLISH? RIGHT, WHAT IS OUR
MEASURE OF SUCCESS WHEN IT COMES
TO THE MASTER PLAN? BY THE END
OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS, ANY
THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE
ABLE TO REALLY, OUTLINE THAT AND
MAKING SURE THAT, WE AS A
LEGISLATURE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE
MIGHT NEED TO GO, AS WELL AS,
WHAT WE CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW
WE CAN SAY IF WE'VE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL OR NOT? ANY THOUGHTS
ABOUT THAT? YES. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. IT'S AN EXCELLENT
QUESTION, AND I SHOULD SAY THAT
A VERY KEY COMPONENT TO OUR WORK
IN ADVANCING THE MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING IS ENSURING
ACCOUNTABILITY. SO TO YOUR
POINT, WE HAVE PRIORITIZED THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A DATA DASHBOARD
FOR AGING, WHICH IS ON OUR MPA
WEBSITE. AND THROUGH THAT EFFORT
, WE ALSO HAVE A CALIFORNIA
AGING AND DISABILITY RESEARCH
PARTNERSHIP COMPRISED OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, THE
STATE, AS WELL AS PHILANTHROPIC
PARTNERS THAT, GROUP OR THAT
PARTNERSHIP, AMONG OTHER
EFFORTS, HAS PRIORITIZED THE
DEVELOPMENT OF Kò OUTCOME
MEASURES THAT CAN BE DEVELOPED
THAT ARE PERSON FOCUSED, THAT
WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACT THAT THE MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING IS HAVING ON Kò AREAS OF
OLDER ADULT, AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, INCLUDING HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL
WELL-BEING, AS WELL AS OUR
CAREGIVER SUPPORT. SO WE ARE
DEVELOPING THE, KIND OF APPROACH
TO THAT FRAMEWORK AND, AND WILL
BE ADVANCING THAT. SO THAT IN
TWO YEARS WE CAN LOOK AT THE
DATA AND SEE WHAT IT SAYS, AS
WELL AS THE DATA ACROSS THE DATA
DASHBOARD FOR AGING. THAT HAS
SEVERAL INDICATORS PER GOAL,
WHICH IS NOT POPULATION
SPECIFIC, BUT MORE, JUST GIVES
US A SENSE OF OUR PROGRESS IN
REACHING THE GOAL. SO THAT'S ONE
KEY ELEMENT OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
ADDITIONALLY OUR STAKEHOLDERS
HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE IN THE WORK
WE DO. OUR SIX STAKEHOLDER
ADVISORY COMMITTEES, INCLUDING
THE, IMPACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
WHICH IS KIND OF OUR OVERSIGHT
ADVISORY BODY, REALLY CALLING
ATTENTION TO THE AREAS THAT THEY
FEEL ARE HIGH PRIORITIES AND WE
ASK THESE STAKEHOLDERS TO WORK
ON DEVELOPING THEIR KEY
RECOMMENDATIONS. AND EVERY TWO
YEARS THEY PRESENT THEIR KEY
PRIORITIES. AND THEN WE UPDATE
THE PLAN EVERY TWO YEARS. SO
THIS FALL, WE'RE WE'RE HOLDING A
BIG CONVENING HERE AT SACRAMENTO
WHERE WE HEAR FROM OUR
STAKEHOLDERS AND THEY PRESENT
THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
NEXT TWO YEARS OF THE MASTER
PLAN. SO THAT KEEPS THE PLAN
ALIVE. AND ALL THE WHILE, WE'RE
TRYING TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY
AS WE ADVANCE THE PLAN. AND IN
OUR REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
EVERY YEAR THAT WE SUBMIT. OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REALLY
APPRECIATE, THIS PANEL, AND THIS
VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
ISSUE, AND LET'S MOVE ON TO,
ISSUE NUMBER THREE. NO, I'M FINE
. OKAY AND YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN
YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MARK BECKLEY, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING, CHIEF
DEPUTY DIRECTOR. I'LL BE
ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS UNDER
THIS ITEM, THE FIRST QUESTION
IS, PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF
CDA'S BUDGET. AND I'LL NOTE THAT
THE AGENDA DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB
OF PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF OUR
BUDGET. SO I WON'T TAKE TIME TO
REPEAT WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN
STATED. BUT I WILL NOTE THAT
GOING INTO THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR,
WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT
DECLINE IN OUR BUDGET, DUE TO
THE EXPIRATION OF AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN AS WELL AS HOME AND
COMMUNITY BASED SPENDING PLAN
FUNDS, THESE REDUCTIONS WERE
ANTICIPATED AND WE'VE BEEN
PLANNING FOR THEM WITH OUR
PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. THEY
PREDOMINANTLY FUND ONE TIME
PROJECTS, SO WE'LL BE RAMPING
DOWN THESE PROGRAMS AND THEN
CONDUCTING EVALUATIONS ON THOSE,
THE SECOND QUESTION ASKS FOR THE
CURRENT STATUS OF OUR LONG TUM
CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM, AND
SPECIFICALLY IF THE PROGRAM HAS
THE RESOURCES TO MEET ITS NEEDS,
THE LONG TUM CARE OMBUDSMAN HAS
TWO PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE FIRST IS TO INVESTIGATE
COMPLAINTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT
IN RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES
AND TO CONDUCT QUARTERLY
FACILITY VISITS TO MAINTAIN A
PRESENCE IN FACILITIES, I FIRST
WANT TO START OFF BY REALLY,
EXPRESSING A THANKS AND
GRATITUDE FOR OUR LONG TUM CARE
OMBUDSMAN. THEY HAVE VERY
DIFFICULT JOBS AND VERY
IMPORTANT JOBS IN PROTECTING THE
RIGHTS OF OLDER ADULTS AND STAFF
IN RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, AND
THEY JUST DO A TREMENDOUS JOB,
IN TERMS OF RESOURCES WHEN IT
COMES TO INVESTIGATING
COMPLAINTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT,
THEY DO PROMPTLY INVESTIGATE THE
MOST SIGNIFICANT COMPLAINTS
PROMPTLY, IN TERMS OF CONDUCTING
QUARTERLY VISITS, THAT HAS BEEN
AN AREA OF CHALLENGE FOR THE
OMBUDSMAN, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR
LEGISLATIVE AUGMENTATION IN
2019, A $5 MILLION WHICH ALLOWED
THE OMBUDSMAN TO INCREASE ITS
QUARTERLY VISITS UP TO VISITING
76% OF NURSING HOMES AND 53% OF
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR
THE ELDERLY ON A QUARTERLY
BASIS, THE CHALLENGE REALLY
COMES IN THAT OVER THE PAST FIVE
YEARS, WE'VE ALSO SEEN A
SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN LONG TUM
CARE OMBUDSMAN VOLUNTEERS,
DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, THEY
LOST APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THEIR
WORKFORCE, OR ABOUT 357,
VOLUNTEERS. THE OMBUDSMAN IS
LAUNCHING A STATEWIDE VOLUNTEER
RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN BEGINNING
IN JULY, THAT WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2025. SO WE
HOPE THAT SOME OF THESE,
VOLUNTEERS CAN EITHER BE BROUGHT
BACK OR WE CAN RECRUIT NEW
VOLUNTEERS FOR THE PROGRAM. I'LL
NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
THREE, WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON OUR
BRIDGE TO RECOVERY PROGRAM. THE
BRIDGE TO RECOVERY PROGRAM IS A
$56 MILLION GRANT PROGRAM TO
PROVIDE ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE,
ADULT DAY, AND PAY CENTERS TO
RESUME AND STABILIZE IN-PERSON
CENTER OPERATIONS. POST THE
COVID PANDEMIC AND TO ENHANCE
ITS THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
INFECTION CONTROL, THE FUNDS CAN
BE USED FOR A VARIETY OF
PURPOSES, INCLUDING WAGE
DIFFERENTIALS AND RETENTION
BONUSES FOR STAFF, STAFF
TRAINING AND STRUCTURAL
IMPROVEMENTS FOR INFECTION
CONTROL, TO DATE, WE HAVE
AWARDED 296 GRANTS TOTALING $20
MILLION, AND WE DO PLAN ON
ISSUING A SECOND ROUND OF GRANT
APPLICATIONS IN MAY, THERE WERE
SOME LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES, AND
INITIALLY LAUNCHING THE PROGRAM
AND REVIEWING AND APPROVING THE
GRANT APPLICATIONS, WE'VE WORKED
TO STREAMLINE THOSE PROCESSES.
SO HOPEFULLY IN ROUND TWO, IT
WILL BE A MUCH SMOOTHER PROCESS
FOR APPLICANTS. I'LL NOW MOVE ON
TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS TO
PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE HCBS
SPENDING PLAN, SO TO YOUR POINT,
PREVIOUSLY ABOUT WHAT ARE WE
DOING NOW TO HELP OLDER ADULTS
IN THE STATE, THESE ARE SOME
EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS, ALTHOUGH
THESE ARE ONE TIME PROGRAMS,
THESE HAVE PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT
BENEFITS TO OLDER ADULTS ACROSS
THE STATE. SO THE FIRST PROGRAM
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS OUR
DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE AND
TRAINING AND STIPENDS PROGRAM,
OR WHAT WE CALL CAL GROWS, THIS
PROVIDES TRAINING AND STIPENDS
TO SUPPORT CAREER PATHWAYS FOR
NON IHSS DIRECT CARE WORKERS,
THE TRAINING IS PROVIDED ONLINE
AND IN PERSON AT 76 LOCAL
PROVIDER SITES. TO DATE, THE
PROGRAM HAS SERVED 6700
CAREGIVERS AND HAS PROVIDED A
CUMULATIVE AMOUNT OF $2.4
MILLION IN STIPEND PAYMENTS TO
THESE WORKERS. WITH AN AVERAGE
STIPEND PAYMENT OF $461. OVER
THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM, MORE
THAN 25,000 CLASSES HAVE BEEN
OFFERED AND COMPLETED. THE
SECOND PROGRAM I'D LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT IS OUR CAL CAMPUS
PILOT PROGRAM. CAL CAMPUS IS A
$5 MILLION PROGRAM AT LICENSED
CENTERS TO PROVIDE DEMENTIA
CAPABLE SERVICES IN THE
COMMUNITY AND TO PREVENT
INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND ADVANCE
HEALTH EQUITY. THERE ARE SEVEN
PARTNERS PROVIDING PART
TICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM, AND
THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER, THE
PROGRAM HAS SERVED 848
INDIVIDUALS WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND
RELATED DISORDERS, PROVIDING
62,563 IN-PERSON TÍNH AND 3913
REMOTE DAYS OF SERVICE, AND
THEY'RE ALSO WORKING ON A
RESOURCE GUIDE TO SUSTAIN THESE
TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND MODELS
GOING FORWARD, AND THEN FINALLY,
I'D JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR
WORK ON BRIDGING THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE FOR OLDER ADULTS AND
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. WE
HAVE TWO PROGRAMS, OUR ACCESS TO
TECHNOLOGY AND OUR DIGITAL
CONNECTIONS PROGRAMS, THE GOAL
OF THESE PROGRAMS IS TO PROVIDE
DIGITAL DEVICES, SERVICE PLANS,
AND TRAININGS TO OLDER ADULTS TO
MAKE THEM, TECHNOLOGY CAPABLE,
THE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
IS A $50 MILLION PROGRAM. WE
HAVE 42 COUNTIES PARTICIPATING
THIS PROGRAM. THE DIGITAL
CONNECTIONS PROGRAM IS A $17
MILLION PROGRAM. AND THROUGH
THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE
DISTRIBUTED 16,000 DEVICES TO
DIFFERENT HOME AND COMMUNITY
BASED PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AS
THE AGENDA NOTED, THERE, WE HAVE
HAD LOW SPEND RATES AS OF THE
END OF SEPTEMBER IN A NUMBER OF
OUR INITIATIVES. THE REASONS FOR
THESE LOW SPEND RATES, REALLY
PREDOMINANTLY ARE FOR SETTING UP
NEW PROGRAMS, ESTABLISHING
CONTRACTS AND FOR PROVIDERS TO
STAND UP PROGRAMS LOCALLY.
HOWEVER, SINCE SEPTEMBER, WE
HAVE SEEN EXPENDITURES
SIGNIFICANTLY RISE, AS LOCAL
PROVIDERS HAVE IMPLEMENTED THEIR
PROGRAMS AND WE EXPECT THOSE
EXPENDITURES TO CONTINUE TO
INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE
OF THE YEAR. I KNOW, FOR THE
NUTRITION INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM, THAT DIRECTOR TAMARA
SAID TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
SOME OF THESE ARE REALLY RELIANT
UPON SECURING NEW EQUIPMENT,
ESPECIALLY THINGS LIKE VEHICLES,
WHICH CAN TAKE A WHILE TO
ACQUIRE, SO WE ARE EXPECTING AT
THE END OF THIS YEAR TO FOR
EXPENDITURES IN THAT PROGRAM TO
INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY, SO
THAT'S A SUMMARY OF THE
DIFFERENT QUESTIONS I ANSWERED
ASKED IN THE AGENDA. AND HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, ISABELLA ALIOTO,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, IN
RESPONSE TO THE AGENDA QUESTION
DIRECTED AT FINANCE, WE ARE
TRACKING, THE EXPENDITURES FOR
HCBS SPENDING FOR ALL OF THE
DEPARTMENTS, THAT RECEIVE THESE
FUNDS. AND AT THIS TIME, WE DO
ANTICIPATE THAT THE FUNDS WILL
BE FULLY SPENT BY THE DEADLINE.
LEO JOHN TROTTER, LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE SO IN TERMS OF
THE ECB'S SPENDING PLAN, AS WE
KNOW, LAST YEAR, MANY OF THE
HCBS PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SLOW
START, THOUGH, AS WE AS WAS
NOTED, WE HAVE SEEN SOME
SPENDING BEGIN TO PICK UP IN THE
LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. BUT WE
STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON
WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE TO EXPAND
ALL OF THE LOT OF FUNDS BEFORE
THE CLOSE. OUT OF ALL THE
PROGRAMS, AS NOTED IN THE
AGENDA, THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE
BUDGET COMMITTEE IS WORKING WITH
THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS
ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE LEGISLATURE
MAY WANT TO ASK ABOUT WHEN THE
NEXT EXPENDITURE UPDATES WILL
BECOME AVAILABLE TO ENSURE
SPENDING IS HAPPENING AS
EXPECTED, AND TO ALSO PROVIDE
YOURSELF WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO
ADJUST SPENDING PRIORITIES IF
NECESSARY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
DOES THE ADMINISTRATION EXPECT
FURTHER CHANGES REGARDING THE
HCBS FUNDS TO COME TO US AT THE
MAY REVISION? ISABELLA ALIOTO,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, I BELIEVE
IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WE SHOULD
HAVE UPDATED SPENDING AT THAT
POINT, THERE ARE PROJECTED,
EXPENDITURES FOR THIS PROGRAM,
ON THE DHCS WEBSITE ON THEIR
HCBS PAGE, FOR WHAT THEY
ANTICIPATE TO SPEND IN EACH OF
THE COMING QUARTERS, AT THE
POINT OF MAY REVISION, I'M NOT
SURE WHICH WHAT WILL BE VERIFIED
NUMBERS AND WHICH WILL STILL BE
PROJECTED, SO I CAN'T SAY FOR
SURE THAT THEY WILL CHANGE
SIGNIFICANTLY AT THAT POINT, BUT
GIVEN THAT WITH THIS PROGRAM, A
LOT OF THE FUNDS GO OUT IN LIKE
LARGER BATCHES, IT'S POSSIBLE
THAT WE DON'T SEE IT CHANGE MUCH
UP UNTIL THAT POINT, AND LATER
IN THE YEAR, WE SEE MORE OF THE
FUNDS, SPENT. THANK YOU FOR
THAT, ON THE LONG TUM CARE
OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM, ARE YOU
FAMILIAR WITH THE FUND SHIFT
PROPOSAL THAT THE, ASSOCIATION
IS RAISING? WE ARE. YES. AND
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT
THAT? AND, IF EVEN ON A
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE LEVEL.
RIGHT, WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION
ON THAT PARTICULAR STAKEHOLDER
PROPOSAL, WE DO UNDERSTAND THE
INTENT OF THE PROPOSAL. AND,
AND, YOU KNOW, WHY WHY IT'S
BEING PROPOSED, BUT YEAH, AT
THIS TIME, WE DON'T HAVE A
POSITION, IN REGARDS TO THE
OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM FROM, PROPOSAL
FROM THE ASSOCIATION, I, I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK IF LAO CAN HELP US
TO KIND OF REVIEW THE PROPOSAL,
TO DISCUSS WITH KDA AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES, SO THAT WE CAN COME
BACK TO THIS SUBCOMMITTEE WITH
FEEDBACK ON IF THIS FUND SHIFT
COULD EVEN WORK IN THE FIRST
PLACE, IS IT FEASIBLE, AND ALSO,
ON THE HCBS FUNDING FOR KDA, I
LIKE TO ALSO ASK TO REVIEW THIS
AGAIN IN THE MAY REVISION. MAY
REVISION, AND ANY FURTHER
CHANGES THAT ARE OFFERED THEN,
WE WILL HOLD THIS ISSUE OPEN AND
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ISSUE.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU
ALL VERY MUCH. ISSUE NUMBER
FOUR, REVIEW OF CALIFORNIA 2030
REPORT AND RELATED STATE
PRIORITIES. AND YOU MAY BEGIN
WHEN YOU'RE READY. ALL RIGHT.
HELLO AGAIN, MR. CHAIR. SUSAN
DEMORRIS, DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING.
I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING
OUR STAKEHOLDERS WHO DEDICATED
ALL OF LAST YEAR TO THE FIRST
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF
CALIFORNIA'S AGING NETWORK SINCE
ITS INCEPTION 50 YEARS AGO. WE
ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THE
RESOURCES THROUGH THE HCBS
SPENDING PLAN, TO RETAIN
CONSULTANTS WHO FACILITATED 270
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS,
CONDUCTED IN-DEPTH PROFILES OF
ALL 33 AREA AGENCIES ON AGING,
AND OVERSAW CALIFORNIA'S FIRST
OLDER ADULT CONSUMER SURVEY THAT
DREW 17,000 RESPONSES FROM ALL
58 COUNTIES LATE LAST YEAR, OUR
CALIFORNIA 2030 STAKEHOLDER
COMMITTEE PUT FORTH A SERIES OF
RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN A
FINAL REPORT. IN A FINAL REPORT
RELEASED IN JANUARY, I'LL NOTE
THAT ADVANCING THE CALIFORNIA
2030 RECOMMENDATIONS IS ONE OF
THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
AGENCY'S 2024 PROGRAM PRIORITIES
. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THIS WORK
AS IT IS PERSON CENTERED AND
DATA DRIVEN AND EQUITY FOCUSED.
IT SERVES AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR
ACTION AS WE ALL PREPARE THE
AGING NETWORK FOR A FUTURE THAT
LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE
PAST. MORE IS DEMANDED OF OUR
NETWORK THAN EVER BEFORE,
CALLING FOR NEW COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS AND STRONG
COLLABORATION WITH COUNTIES AND
HEALTH PLANS. THIS EFFORT
POSITIONS CALIFORNIA TO ACT ON
THE ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY
LIVING ACL. WE CALL IT FIVE
FEDERAL RULE, PUBLISHED IN
FEBRUARY. THE FIRST UPDATE TO
THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT IN 36
YEARS, CALIFORNIA MUST BE IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS RULE BY
OCTOBER OF 2025. BY NEXT JULY,
CALIFORNIA MUST SUBMIT ITS STATE
PLAN ON AGING TO THE ACL. OUR
FOUR YEAR ROADMAP FOR THE AGING
NETWORK. AS YOU'VE STATED, WE
HAVE A DEMOGRAPHIC IMPERATIVE TO
ACT NOW, SPECIFICALLY, CDA IS
MOVING FORWARD IN FIVE AREAS ONE
IN CONSULTATION WITH
STAKEHOLDERS, WE'LL DEVELOP A
SUITE OF CORE PROGRAMS CURRENTLY
OFFERED BY ALL AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING FOR EXAMPLE, THIS MAY
INCLUDE SENIOR NUTRITION,
CAREGIVER SUPPORTS, INFORMATION
AND ASSISTANCE, AND LEGAL
SERVICES. WE WANT EVERY
CALIFORNIAN, NO MATTER WHERE
THEY LIVE, TO KNOW WHAT THEY CAN
EXPECT AT A MINIMUM FROM THEIR
LOCAL AA TWO, IN CONSULTATION
WITH STAKEHOLDERS, WE WILL ADOPT
PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO HOLD US
ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROGRAM OUTCOMES
WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, WE NEED
TO GUARANTEE THAT SERVICES ARE
REACHING OLDER ADULTS WITH THE
GREATEST SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
NEEDS, AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL
LAW. THREE IN CONSULTATION WITH
STAKEHOLDERS, REVISIT THE
PROCESS FOR DETERMINING
GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES AND
DESIGNATING LOCAL AGENCIES. THIS
PERTAINS TO A LONG STANDING
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL FOR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS. THAT WAS RECENTLY
REAFFIRMED BY OUR FEDERAL
OVERSIGHT AGENCY. MANY LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS ARE SEEKING TO
INTEGRATE HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, AND FOR MANY, THAT
INCLUDES INTEGRATING OLDER
ADULTS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS
INTO THEIR SYSTEMS OF CARE. FOUR
IN CONSULTATION WITH
STAKEHOLDERS, WE WILL REEXAMINE
THE INTERSTATE FUNDING FORMULA
TO ACCOUNT FOR POPULATION SHIFTS
AND TO FACTOR IN CONTEMPORARY
EQUITY MEASURES. AND FIVE IN
CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS,
WE WILL LAUNCH A STATEWIDE
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY TO HELP
CONSUMERS MORE EASILY IDENTIFY,
NAVIGATE AND ACCESS SERVICES IN
THEIR LOCAL AREA. THANKFULLY, WE
HAVE RESOURCES THROUGH THE END
OF THIS YEAR TO PERFORM THE
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT
NEEDED TO MAP OUT THE WORK WITH
TIMELINES AND DELIVERABLES. WE
ARE GRATEFUL ALSO TO SENATOR
ROTH, WHO HAS INTRODUCED SB
1249, A LEGISLATIVE VEHICLE THAT
OUTLINES THE 2030 THE CALIFORNIA
2030 RECOMMENDATIONS IN STATUTE
CDA IS PROVIDING TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO THE BILL, AND WE
ANTICIPATE A REGULATORY UPDATE
NEXT YEAR TO CONFORM WITH THE
NEW FEDERAL RULE AND ANY CHANGES
THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION. AT THIS
TIME, THERE ARE NO BUDGET
REQUESTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE
EFFORTS. CALIFORNIA 2030 IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING. CURRENTLY, MPA
INITIATIVE NUMBER 74 REQUIRES
CDA TO PERFORM THIS WORK AND
PRIOR MPA INITIATIVES SET FORTH
SIMILAR EXPECTATIONS. HAPPY TO
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY
HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE T I
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. NOTHING
TO ADD. LAO XUAN TROTTER,
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE, SO
AS WAS NOTED, THERE ARE NO
PROPOSALS RELATED TO THIS
INITIATIVE, AS SUCH, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE CAL 2030
INITIATIVE AS IT PROGRESSES, MY
ONLY REQUEST FROM CDA IS JUST TO
MAKE SURE, TO ENSURE THAT WE
HAVE A CLOSE COMMUNICATION
AMONGST OUR COMMITTEE STAFF AS
WELL THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS,
PARTICULARLY, INCLUDING LAO,
ABOUT THE CONTINUED WORK THAT IS
MOVING FORWARD AND, ALWAYS ABLE
TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE AND
APPROPRIATE PROACTIVE BASIS IN
TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, EVEN BEFORE
YOUR LAUNCHING THE NEW
INITIATIVES OR THINGS LIKE THAT,
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS AND MAKE SURE
EVERYONE'S AWARE AND HELP TO
MAKE SURE THAT, EVERYONE IS
BROUGHT ALONG IN THE PROCESS.
AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU'LL BE
WILLING TO, TO DO THAT. AND,
ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK, YOU
KNOW, ONCE THIS CRAZY
LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS OVER,
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND
CATCH UP. I THINK IT'S BEEN A
WHILE SINCE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO,
TO DO THAT, ARE YOU OPEN TO THAT
? ARE YOU GOING ON ANY VACATIONS
OR ANYTHING I NEED TO BE MADE
AWARE OF, ABSOLUTELY. DOCTOR
JACKSON, WE WELCOME YOUR
INVOLVEMENT AND WE COMMIT TO YOU
AND TO YOUR STAFF THAT WILL KEEP
YOU WELL INFORMED OF EVERY STEP
ALONG THE WAY. AND WE'D LOVE TO
VISIT WITH YOU IN YOUR DISTRICT
WHERE YOU HAVE A MODEL PROGRAM,
A VERY STRONG AREA AGENCY ON
AGING IN YOUR AREA THAT WE WE'D
LOVE TO PARTNER WITH AND, AND
BRING IN YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS
WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WE'LL MOVE
ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. I ISSUE ISSUE NUMBER
FIVE.
AND YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE
READY. THANK YOU. AND GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. MY NAME IS
NICOLE SHIMAZAKI. I'M THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES AT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING. I WILL
PRESENT TO YOU TODAY THE THREE
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSALS AS THEY
WERE INTRODUCED IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. OUR FIRST
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL IS
REGARDING THE CALFRESH HEALTHY
LIVING PROGRAM, WITHIN THIS
REQUEST, CDA HAS ASKED FOR $2
MILLION IN REIMBURSEMENT
AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT ONE
PERMANENT POSITION AND INCREASED
LOCAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING
ONGOING, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE
INCREASED MONITORING SERVICES,
PROGRAM SITE CAPACITY, INCREASED
CLIENT COUNTS, AND ENHANCED
CURRICULA FOR THE CALFRESH
HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM. THIS
PROGRAM TARGETS LOW INCOME
ADULTS AGED 60 AND OLDER. THE
SOURCE OF THIS FUNDING IS FROM
THE USDA FOOD AND NUTRITION
SERVICES SECTION OF THE FEDERAL
BUDGET. THE CALFRESH HEALTHY
LIVING PROGRAM PROVIDES OLDER
ADULTS WITH EDUCATION AND
TRAINING ABOUT HEALTHY LIVING
AND GOOD NUTRITION, AND HOW TO
MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES ON A
LIMITED BUDGET. 20 AREA AGENCIES
ON AGING PARTICIPATE IN THE
PROGRAM, PROVIDING SERVICES TO
RESIDENTS IN 37 COUNTIES. CDA
WILL PROVIDE THE INCREASED
FUNDING TO OUR PARTNERS, WITH A
GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THE
PROGRAM BY 5. THE ARS WILL ALSO
LEVERAGE THIS FUNDING TO
INCREASE SERVICES TO DIVERSE AND
UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN THE
STATE, INCLUDING COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES,
LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITIES, TRIBAL
ORGANIZATIONS, AND VETERANS. THE
ADDITIONAL POSITION REQUESTED
WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
MONITORING AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO THE TO THE
PARTICIPATING ARS. CURRENTLY,
THE PROGRAM IS BUDGETED AT $6.1
MILLION AND SERVES 130,000
UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS. THE SECOND
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL THAT WE
HAVE, IS REGARDING OUR HEALTH
INSURANCE, COUNSELING AND
ADVOCACY PROGRAM. CDA OVERSEES
THIS PROGRAM ALSO KNOWN AS
HICAP, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED
STATEWIDE BY 26 AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING. HICAP OFFERS MEDICARE AND
RELATED HEALTH INSURANCE,
COUNSELING, AND EDUCATION, AND
PROVIDES SERVICES TO
APPROXIMATELY 51,000 MEDICARE
BENEFICIARIES ANNUALLY. THE
HICAP SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL IS
DEPENDENT UPON THE ABILITY TO
RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND TRAIN
VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS. VOLUNTEERS
MAKE UP 74% OF THE OVERALL HIGH
CAP COUNSELOR WORKFORCE BETWEEN
FISCAL YEARS 20 1718 AND FISCAL
YEARS 2122. THE NUMBER OF
MEDICARE BENEFIT REYES RESIDING
IN CALIFORNIA INCREASED BY
APPROXIMATELY 7. HOWEVER, DURING
THAT SAME TIME FRAME, IN LARGE
PART DUE TO THE OPERATIONAL
CHALLENGES OF THE COVID 19
PANDEMIC, THE HIGH CAP
PENETRATION RATE DECREASED BY
22. IN ADDITION, THE NUMBER OF
ACTIVE HIGH CAP COUNSELORS, MANY
OF WHICH ARE OLDER ADULT
VOLUNTEERS, ALSO DECREASED 20.
IN RESPONSE TO THESE TRENDS
BEGINNING IN JULY OF 21, CDA WAS
PROVIDED WITH TWO YEAR FUNDING
AUTHORITY FROM THE HIGH CAP
SPECIAL FUND TO SUPPORT THE HIGH
CAP PROGRAM. THE LOCAL FUNDING
ENABLES EACH OF THE 26 HIGH CAPS
TO HAVE ONE FULL TIME VOLUNTEER
COORDINATOR POSITION. THIS
POSITION IS VITAL TO THE PROGRAM
SINCE HIGH HIGH CAP VOLUNTEERS
DO CONSTITUTE 74% OF THE HIGH
CAP WORKFORCE. THE VOLUNTEER
COUNSELORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
RECRUITING, TRAINING, AND ACTING
AS A RESOURCE. TO THE HIGH CAP
CLIENTS. THE THREE REQUESTED
LIMITED TIME POSITIONS ARE
NEEDED TO UPDATE AND REFRESH
HIGH CAP TRAINING MATERIALS,
MONITOR LOCAL PROGRAMS, AND
PERFORM PROGRAM RESEARCH AND
ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE CUSTOMER
TRENDS AND NEEDS. AT THIS TIME,
WE ARE REQUESTING TO EXTEND THE
LIMITED TIME, HIGH CAP POSITIONS
AND LOCAL FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL
YEAR. OUR THIRD AND FINAL BCP IS
REGARDING THE OFFICE OF THE LONG
TUM CARE PATIENT REPRESENTATIVE
PROGRAM. THIS IS A TECHNICAL
BUDGET REQUEST TO PROVIDE
SUSTAINABILITY AND PERMANENCE TO
THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE BUILT FOR
THE PROGRAM, GIVEN THE SUCCESS
OF THE STATE PATIENT
REPRESENTATIVE MODEL, CDA
PROPOSES REDIRECT FUNDING FROM
LOCAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE
OPERATIONS TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT SIX PATIENT
REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS ONE
PATIENT REPRESENTATIVE MANAGER
AND ONE ANALYST THAT WAS NEEDED
TO RESPOND TO GENERAL INQUIRIES
FROM FACILITIES SUPPORT.
TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
NEEDS OF THE OFFICE, AND PROVIDE
TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND PROGRAM
OVERSIGHT OF THE IT SOLUTION
THAT WAS CREATED, CALLED THE
CALIFORNIA PATIENT
REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION
SYSTEM. THERE ARE CURRENTLY
EIGHT LIMITED TOURM POSITIONS IN
THE OFFICE. CDA REQUESTS
POSITION, AUTHORITY AND
TECHNICAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS FOR
THESE POSITIONS. THERE WILL BE
NO LOCAL IMPACT TO THE LOCAL
PARTNERS BECAUSE INITIALLY AS
THE PROGRAM WAS STRUCTURED,
THERE WERE FUNDING FUNDS CREATED
IN THE LOCAL ASSISTANCE THAT WAS
INTENDED FOR LOCAL PATIENT
REPORTED REPRESENTATIVE SERVICE
CONTRACTS. HOWEVER, AFTER TWO
ROUNDS OF REQUESTS FOR
APPLICATIONS, THERE WAS ONLY TWO
RESPONSIVE BIDDERS IN LA AND
ORANGE COUNTY. THEY WERE BOTH
AWARDED CONTRACTS IN THAT WILL
CONTINUE THE REMAINING BALANCE
HAS BEEN USED TO FUND THESE
EIGHT STATE OPERATIONS
POSITIONS, STATE OPERATION
POSITIONS, AND WE'RE JUST ASKING
TO MOVE THAT FUNDING PERMANENTLY
TO SUSTAIN THIS MODEL. THAT IS
ALL OKAY. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
T I ALRP DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
NOTHING TO ADD. LAO XUAN CHA,
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE WE
HAVE NOTHING TO ADD, WE JUST
HAVE ONE REQUEST FOR LAO TO,
HELP US TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE
HIGH CAP BCP AND HELP US WITH,
DRAFTING SOME STRAIGHTFORWARD,
BUDGET BILL LANGUAGE THAT WILL
HELP US WITH FACILITATING
OVERSIGHT OVER HOW, HIGH CAP IS
OPERATING AND THE HIGH CAP FUND
CONDITION, IS LAO AMENABLE TO
HELPING US WITH THAT, AND WE'RE
ALSO ASKING ADMINISTRATION IF
YOU'LL PLEASE WORK WITH LAO AS
THEY ARE, AS THEY REQUEST THE
VARIOUS INFORMATION TO HELP US
WITH THAT PROCESS. NOT A
PROBLEM. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY THANK
YOU ALL VERY MUCH. WE'LL MOVE ON
TO ISSUE NUMBER SIX. WE ARE
JAMMING Y'ALL. WE ARE JAMMING
YOU. YOU MIGHT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE
TO CATCH AN EPISODE OR TWO WHEN
YOU GET HOME. IF WE KEEP GOING.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR JACKSON
CLARE RAMSEY, CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, HERE TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME
STATE SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENT
PROGRAM CALLED THE SSI, SSP
PROGRAM, THE AGENDA DOES A GREAT
JOB GOING OVER, HIGHLIGHTS OF
THE PROGRAM. SO I'LL JUST FLAG
THAT THE PROGRAM, GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET HAS THE 23, 24 ADJUSTED
BUDGET FOR OUR SSI, SSP PROGRAM
AT $11.3 BILLION, WHICH REFLECTS
A SMALL DECREASE OF $116.9
MILLION IN TOTAL FUNDS, FOR THE
BUDGET ACT OF 2023. AND WE HAVE
A PROJECTED, A BUDGET IN 24, 25
OF $11.5 BILLION, WITH A NET
INCREASE OF $112.5 MILLION,
COMPARED TO OUR BUDGET ACT OF
2023. CURRENT SPENDING. WE
ANTICIPATE THAT THE 2324
CASELOAD WILL BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE
1.1 MILLION RECIPIENTS, AND THAT
THE 2425 CASELOAD WILL BE
SLIGHTLY BELOW 1.1 MILLION
RECIPIENTS, AND WE'LL SPEAK TO
THAT A LITTLE AS WE ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS, OUR CURRENT SSI RATE
FOR AN INDIVIDUAL IS IN AS OF
JANUARY 2023, IS $1,133.73 AND
$1,927.62 FOR A COUPLE. AS OF
JANUARY 2024. BECAUSE OF OUR
INCREASES THAT WERE DISCUSSED
EARLIER, WE ARE AT $1,182.94 FOR
AN INDIVIDUAL AND $2,022.83 AS
OF JANUARY 2024. FOR A COUPLE,
NOW WE'LL MOVE TO YOUR
QUESTIONS. WE WERE ASKED ABOUT
THE CURRENT GRANT LEVELS AS I
JUST READ THEM OUT THAT
INDIVIDUALS RIGHT NOW ARE AT 94%
OF THE POVERTY LEVEL, AS WAS
MENTIONED IN AN EARLIER PANEL,
AND COUPLES ARE AT 119% OF THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, WE ALSO
WERE ASKED ABOUT A COMPARISON TO
THE AVERAGE RENTAL COST, WE DO
NOT ACTUALLY TRACK INFORMATION
RELATED TO FAIR MARKET RENT IN
CALIFORNIA. HOWEVER, WE
APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT
WAS PROVIDED IN THE AGENDA AND
HAVE NO REASON TO THINK THAT IT
IS INACCURATE THAT IN SOME
COUNTIES, RENT IS FAR HIGHER
THAN OUR SSI GRANT, AND THAT IN
MOST COUNTIES IT IS, NOT ENOUGH
TO RENT AN APARTMENT, ALONE,
WITHOUT OTHER INCOME OR WITHOUT
A ROOMMATE, WE WERE ASKED TO
DISCUSS THE SSI, SSP, MO
STANDARD. WE DID PROVIDE THE
LEGISLATURE WITH OUR ANALYSIS,
BUT IT WAS ONLY EARLIER THIS
WEEK, SO I'M JUST GOING TO TOUCH
A FEW POINTS THAT WERE LIFTED UP
IN THAT ANALYSIS. AND AS THE
CHAIR AND OTHERS HAVE MORE TIME
TO LOOK AT IT, IF WE HAVE
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE'RE
HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT
FURTHER. BUT AS I SAID, WE
COMPLETED OUR ANALYSIS ON THE
TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
IMPACTS REQUIRED TO PIVOT FROM
THE SOCIAL SECURITY, SSP
SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENT LEVEL
METHOD, WHICH IS THE CURRENT
METHOD WE USE TO THE TOTAL
EXPENDITURES METHOD, THE
ANALYSIS WAS SENT TO THE
ASSEMBLY ON MONDAY, APRIL 15TH,
TO SUMMARIZE WHAT WAS INCLUDED,
CALIFORNIA CAN CHANGE ITS SSP
PAYMENT STANDARD TO MAKE THIS
CHANGE, THE STATE MUST COMPLY
WITH ALL SSA REQUIREMENTS,
INCLUDING NOTIFYING THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AT LEAST
SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE, AND IT
MUST ALIGN WITH A FEDERAL
BENEFIT INCREASE. SINCE THIS
TYPICALLY HAPPENS ON JANUARY 1ST
OF EVERY YEAR, CALIFORNIA WOULD
LIKELY HAVE TO NOTIFY SSA NO
LATER THAN JUNE 30TH OF THE YEAR
PRECEDING THE CHANGE. WANT TO
CLARIFY THAT THIS CHANGE, EITHER
LEAVING IT THE SAME OR CHANGING
IT, DOES NOT IMPACT THE
RECIPIENTS GRANT AMOUNT. THOSE
WILL CONTINUE AS THEY WERE
DISCUSSED, BUT IT MAY IMPACT THE
STATE GENERAL FUND. SO JUST
FLAGGING THAT, THE TOTAL
EXPENDITURES METHOD REQUIRES US
TO KEEP THE AMOUNT TOTAL THAT WE
SPEND ON SSP, CONSISTENT FROM
THE PREVIOUS YEAR, EVEN AS
CASELOADS DECREASE. AND IF THEY
DO DECREASE, WE'RE NEXT ASKED
ACTUALLY, ABOUT THAT EXACT
POINT, WHETHER OR NOT, AND WHY
SSI, SSP CASELOADS ARE DECLINING
SLIGHTLY AND WHETHER THERE WERE
ISSUES RELATED TO APPLICATIONS
OR RETENTION. WE DON'T HAVE DATA
ON APPLICATIONS AND RETENTION
BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS DIRECTLY
ADMINISTERED THROUGH SSA, AND
PEOPLE APPLY AND ARE DETERMINED
ELIGIBLE BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION. THÀNH. HOWEVER,
OUR, OUR CASELOAD DOES SUGGEST
STEADY AND SLIGHT DECLINE OVER
TIME, AND WE THINK THIS IS
LARGELY DUE TO THE ASSET LIMIT
IN THE SSI PROGRAM, WHICH HAS
REMAINED AT $2,000 FOR AN
INDIVIDUAL AND $3,000 FOR A
COUPLE, AND HAS NOT CHANGED
SINCE 1989. WE ALSO DO THINK
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE COVID
PANDEMIC, WHERE SSA OFFICES WERE
CLOSED FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS
TO THE PUBLIC, MAY HAVE ALSO
IMPACTED APPLICATIONS, BUT WE
DON'T HAVE DATA ON THAT FINAL.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT WE DON'T
ACTUALLY HAVE DENIAL RATES AGAIN
BECAUSE OF THE ADMINISTRATION
THROUGH THE SOCIAL SECURITY. AND
SO WE DON'T HAVE DATA. TO ANSWER
YOUR LAST QUESTION IN THE
AGENDA. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS REBECCA
GONZALEZ AND I'M WITH THE
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND
POVERTY. AND I'M SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIANS FOR
SSI COALITION. THIS IS A
STATEWIDE COALITION OF SSI
ADVOCATES, AND OVER 200
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE AGING
DISABILITY RIGHTS, HOUSING AND
HOMELESS, ANTI-HUNGER AND
ANTI-POVERTY SECTORS. WE SEE THE
SUFFERING THAT OUR MOST
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS ARE FACING
EVERY DAY, AND WE SEEK TO ENSURE
THEY RECEIVE ADEQUATE SUPPORT TO
LIVE THEIR LIVES IN DIGNITY. WE
ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL THAT THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET DID
NOT PROPOSE CUTS TO THE GRANTS,
AND THAT THE COMMITMENT WAS KEPT
TO MAINTAIN THE GRANT INCREASE
THAT TOOK EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST,
2024. DESPITE RECENT INCREASES
TO THE GRANT, THE HIGH COST OF
LIVING IN CALIFORNIA, INFLATION
AND RECESSION ERA CUTS HAVE
RESULTED IN THE INDIVIDUAL GRANT
ONLY BEING AT 94% OF THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL. CALIFORNIANS,
OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES ON SSI HOLD JOBS,
PROVIDE CAREGIVING TO CHILDREN
AND ELDERS, CONTINUE TO MAKE
VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
SOCIETY, AND HAVE DREAMS FOR THE
FUTURE. LIVING AS AN OLDER ADULT
OR AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A
DISABILITY WITH LOW INCOME IS
PRECARIOUS. MAKING SURE YOU HAVE
FOOD THAT MEETS YOUR HEALTH
NEEDS, AND THE EQUIPMENT AND
SERVICES NEEDED TO SAFELY LIVE
INDEPENDENTLY CAN BE COSTLY.
HIGH RENTS HAVE THE DEEPEST
IMPACTS ON THOSE WITH THE LOWEST
INCOMES, PUTTING THEM AT HIGHER
RISK FOR HOUSING INSTABILITY AND
HOMELESSNESS. AS MENTIONED
PREVIOUSLY, A RECENT STUDY BY
THE CALIFORNIA BUDGET AND POLICY
CENTER POINTS OUT THAT THE FAIR
MARKET RENT FOR A STUDIO
APARTMENT EXCEEDS ALL INCLUDE
EXCEEDS ONE HALF OF THE CURRENT
INDIVIDUAL SSI, SSP GRANT OF
$1,183 IN ALL COUNTIES, AND IS
HIGHER THAN THE ENTIRE GRANT IN
25 COUNTIES, AND THIS IS RENT
ALONE, AND THE ANALYSIS DOES NOT
INCLUDE OTHER BASIC NEEDS LIKE
FOOD AND HEALTH CARE COSTS. TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY FOR SSI
RECIPIENTS, WE SUPPORT THE
SUGGESTION FOR DSS TO INCLUDE
THIS TYPE OF ANALYSIS OF SSI.
SSP GRANTS COMPARED TO FAIR
MARKET RENT AS PART OF THEIR
REGULAR WORK, SSI BENEFICIARIES
LIVE IN EVERY COMMUNITY AND
REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR
STATE AS A SAFETY NET PROGRAM.
SSI ALSO HELPS TO EQUALIZE
ACCESS FOR MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES. SSI IS A CRITICAL
BENEFIT FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE HAD
LESS ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, AND
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, SUCH AS
WOMEN, ESPECIALLY OLDER WOMEN OF
COLOR, PEOPLE OF COLOR, LGBTQ,
PLUS PEOPLE AND IMMIGRANTS. I'D
LIKE TO SHARE A QUOTE FROM A
COALITION MEMBER IN AN SSI
RECIPIENT. I APPRECIATE THE
RAISE WE GOT IN SSP, BUT WE ARE
STILL AT 94% OF THE POVERTY
LEVEL. THE LACK OF SSP MEANT
THAT MY RECENT MOVE WAS
EXPENSIVE. I AM NOW IN SAN
BENITO COUNTY AND BEING IN A
FLOOD IMPACTED COUNTY DIDN'T
HELP. WHEN CALFRESH GOT LOWERED
AFTER THE PANDEMIC EXPANSION
STOPPED, CALIFORNIANS FOR SSI IS
HERE TO STAY. WE ARE STILL IN
NEED AND WE WANT OUR VOICES
HEARD AS THE STATE LOOKS TOWARD
THE FUTURE AND AS OUR FISCAL
SITUATION IMPROVES, IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT THIS POPULATION
HAS ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR THEIR
DAILY NEEDS. TO GET THERE, WE
MUST APPROPRIATE A THREE STEP
INCREASE TO BRING THE SSI, SSP
GRANT TO 100% OF THE POVERTY
LEVEL OVER THREE YEARS, TO BRING
BACK THE COST OF LIVING,
INCREASE YEARLY IN ORDER TO
PREVENT THE GRANTS FROM ERODING
OVER TIME, AND THREE REVIVE THE
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES PROGRAM,
WHICH WAS A PROGRAM FOR SSI,
CAPI AND IHS RECIPIENTS. THIS
PROGRAM SUPPORTED THESE
RECIPIENTS WITH EMERGENCY
EXPENSES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT
CAN RESULT IN HUNGER OR
HOMELESSNESS, SUCH AS HOUSING
REPAIRS, REPLACING MAJOR
FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES, MOVING
EXPENSES, AND UNMET SHELTER
NEEDS. CALIFORNIA MOST
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS STRUGGLE TO
STAY HOUSED, BUY FOOD AND
SURVIVE. WE MUST REMAIN
COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT SSI
RECIPIENTS DO NOT STRUGGLE WITH
THE TOXIC STRESS OF POVERTY AND
HAVE THE ECONOMIC SECURITY TO
LIVE IN SAFE ENVIRONMENTS. THIS
WILL HELP US MEET CURRENT NEEDS
AND CONTINUE MOVING US TOWARD A
NEW, INCLUSIVE NORMAL IN OUR
PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAMS THAT
PROVIDES DIGNITY FOR ALL. THANK
YOU. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
IVELISSE PEREZ, DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD.
ELIO JOHN TROTTER, LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE SO, FIRST, NOTING
THAT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
INCLUDES NO NEW PROPOSALS FOR
SSI. SSP, HOWEVER, AS WAS
MENTIONED, THE DEPARTMENT HAS
RECENTLY RELEASED A MEMO
OUTLINING POWER. WE
DO NOT HAVE TO ASK PERMISSION TO
DO IT. HOWEVER, THE
CONSIDERATIONS REALLY ARE
WHETHER OR NOT THE STATE WANTS
TO TAKE, THE DECISION TO, SHIFT
THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR SSP
AND TAKE THAT OUT OF BASICALLY
THEIR HANDS ON A YEAR TO YEAR
BASIS, BECAUSE GOING TO THE
TOTAL EXPENDITURES METHOD WOULD
MEAN WE ARE REQUIRED TO STAY AT
THE PRECEDING YEAR'S, OVERALL
SPENDING AMOUNT EACH NEXT FISCAL
YEAR. SO BASICALLY WHAT IT DOES
IS IT REMOVES THE OPTION TO
DECREASE OR INCREASE OR EXCUSE
ME, I SHOULD SAY DECREASE THE
GENERAL FUND SPENDING ON SSP.
AND AS I MENTIONED, AND, GENERAL
FUND SPENDING DECREASES IN SSP
DO NOT NECESSARILY EQUAL, GRANT
DECREASE SIZES FOR INDIVIDUALS.
INSTEAD, THEY MAY BE TIED MORE
CLOSELY TO CASELOAD. AND IF
CASELOAD DECREASES GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES MAY DECLINE WHILE
STILL KEEPING GRANT AMOUNTS AT
THE SAME RATE THEY ARE CURRENTLY
. SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST A QUESTION
OF WHETHER THE STATE WANTS TO
CHANGE ITS FLEXIBILITY AND HOW
IT SHIFTS, AND HOW IT LOOKS AT
THE TOTAL AMOUNT IT SPENDS IN
GENERAL FUNDS FOR SSP, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, OBVIOUSLY, SSI, SSP
IS CRITICAL AND CERTAINLY, WE
HAVE TO BEGIN TO GET TO THE
POINT WHERE WE ARE COVERING
THOSE COST OF LIVING. RIGHT. I
MEAN, THAT'S ONE OF THE
PARTICULAR REASONS ALSO WHY
SENIORS ARE FALLING INTO
HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER THINGS.
AND SO IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE CAN
BEGIN TO ADDRESS THAT, I'M
HOPEFUL THAT, WE CAN SEE SEE IT
IN THE MAY REVISE IF POSSIBLE,
BUT AT LEAST BE ABLE TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE A PLAN ON HOW TO
GET THERE RIGHT. WE'VE GOT TO
GET THERE. AND WE CANNOT BALANCE
OUR BUDGET BASED UPON ON THE
BACKS OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR
SENIORS. WE THAT THIS IS OUR
SACRED RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE
HAVE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE
STATE. WE ARE NOT A QUALITY
STATE IF WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE
OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR SENIORS.
AND SO WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE THOSE
MOVEMENTS FORWARD, TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BE A STATE
WE CAN BE PROUD OF, ONCE WE HAVE
A CHANCE TO FULLY REVIEW THE
REPORT, JUST WANT TO ALERT THE
ADMINISTRATION THAT WE MAY WANT
TO PURSUE THIS CHANGE IN THE
PAYMENT STANDARD, WE ASK THAT
THE LAO IS ALSO TO HELP US WITH
A REVIEW OF THE REPORT THAT, WAS
JUST RECEIVED, AND IF WE DO
DECIDE TO PURSUE A CHANGE IN
LAW, WE WILL, CIRCULATE LANGUAGE
FOR YOUR FOR EVERYONE'S
CONSIDERATION AS WELL. FROM A
LEGISLATIVE PURVIEW, WE WOULD
REVIEW THIS LANGUAGE AS NO COST.
SO IF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
AND ADMINISTRATION HAVE A
DIFFERENT VIEW, WE ASK FOR YOU
TO LET US KNOW IN WRITING AND
EXPLAIN YOUR PERSPECTIVE. IN
ADDITION, I WANT TO ASK FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION TO CONSIDER
INCLUDING A DISPLAY LIKE WHAT IS
IN THE AGENDA ON PAGE SEVEN AND
EIGHT FOR THE DSS ESTIMATES
BINDER, WHICH ARE RELEASED AT
AT, JANUARY 10TH WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND AT MAY
WITH THE MAY REVISION, THIS WAS
A VERY HELPFUL, VERY HELPFUL
DISPLAY THAT WAS, PUT TOGETHER.
AND THIS IS THE KIND OF
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE SSI,
SSP GRANTS LINE UP AGAINST FAIR
MARKET RENT, IN THE COUNTIES,
IT'S CERTAINLY CRITICAL FOR US
TO HAVE A REAL UNDERSTANDING FOR
THE CONDITION OF THE GRANT
LEVELS, BASICALLY, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT, HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT
IT, AND HOW DOES THIS REALLY
REFLECT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE
REAL WORLD? RIGHT AND SO WE
CERTAINLY HAVE A GREAT MODEL AND
IT'S OUR HOPE THAT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO PRODUCE THOSE TYPES
OF, OF, MODELS SO THAT WE CAN
FULLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS
THAT WE ARE MAKING, BOTH WHETHER
THEY'RE GOOD OR BAD OR, OR
NEUTRAL, IT HAS PROVEN TO US TO
BE VERY HELPFUL, SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THIS. OBVIOUSLY
MORE TO COME AS WE GO INTO THE
MAY REVISE AND CERTAINLY, WE
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM,
OUR ADVOCATES AS WELL ONCE THE
MAY REVISE COMES AND CERTAINLY
KNOW THAT MY DOOR IS OPEN TO BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE
DISCUSSIONS. AND SO WE WILL HOLD
THIS, THIS ISSUE ITEM OPEN AND
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ISSUE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ISSUE NUMBER
SEVEN IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES
.
AND MISS RAMSEY MAY START WHEN
YOU'RE READY. WELL, THERE WAS A
CHANGE OF Ó. IT'S ALL RIGHT.
IT'S ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS LARA
FELICINA. I AM THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE. SO YOU'RE NOT
CLAIRE? NO NO, I'M NOT CLAIRE.
UNFORTUNATELY. SHE'S REALLY
GOOD, THOUGH. YEAH. OH OKAY. WE
HAD A LAST MINUTE, SHIFT. OKAY.
AM I MY BAD. NO NO WORRIES, NO
WORRIES AT ALL. YOU MAY START
WHEN YOU'RE READY, THOUGH. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS LARA
FELICINA. I'M THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE ADULT PROGRAMS
DIVISION AT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
AS, THE AGENDA DID A GREAT JOB
OF GIVING AN OVERVIEW OF IHSS.
SO I WILL JUST KIND OF JUMP INTO
THE BUDGET ASPECT IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME. GLAD TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS. SO THE 2425
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSES A
TOTAL OF $22.4 BILLION IN FISCAL
YEAR 2324 AND $24.3 BILLION IN
2425, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF
APPROXIMATELY 1.9 BILLION, THE
INCREASE IS DUE TO THE EXPANSION
OF THE FULL SCOPE MEDI-CAL TO
UNDOCUMENTED ADULTS. THE SUNSET
OF ENHANCED FEDERAL, MEDICAID
FUNDING AND GROWTH IN PROJECTED
CASELOAD COST PER HOUR AND HOURS
PER CASE. I DID WANT TO MAKE
SURE I MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE
NO BUDGET SOLUTIONS RELATED TO
THE IHSS PROGRAM, AND I WILL
JUST GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS STREAMLINED
ELIGIBILITY FOR MINOR RECIPIENTS
AND PROVIDING UPDATE THERE. THE
WE ISSUED AN ACL ON DECEMBER
21ST, 2023, AND THE COUNTIES HAD
A 60 DAY IMPLEMENTATION TIME
FRAME, WHICH ENDED AT THE END OF
FEBRUARY 2024. OUR UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT THE COUNTIES HAVE BEGUN
WORKING WITH THESE IMPACTED
CASES AS THEY ARE BEING
REASSESSED AND OR AT THE REQUEST
OF ADVOCATES AND PARENTS OF THE
RECIPIENTS. WE WILL KNOW MORE AS
CHANGES ARE MADE AND WE ARE ABLE
TO SEE IN THE DATA THAT THERE
ARE MINOR CASES WITH NO
PROVIDERS WHO ARE NOW RECEIVING
SERVICES. AND GOING ON TO THE
NEXT AGENDA ITEM, I'LL JUST KEEP
ON MOVING. FOR AB 102 AND THE
REQUIREMENT TO EXPLORE REGIONAL
AND STATEWIDE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING FOR IHSS PROVIDERS,
WE HELD THREE INITIAL LEVEL
SETTING MEETINGS WITH THE WORK
GROUP TO PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTION
TO THE IHSS PROGRAM, THE COUNTY
MÐI AND THE CURRENT COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS, WE BROUGHT
ON TWO CONSULTANTS, TO ASSIST
WITH THE WORKGROUP. HIGHROAD
ALLIANCE WILL HELP US WITH
FACILITATION AND THE UC BERKELEY
LABOR CENTER WILL ASSIST US WITH
RESEARCH RELATED TO THE
WORKGROUP. THE FORMAL WORKGROUP
MEETINGS ACTUALLY BEGIN THIS
FRIDAY, APRIL 19TH, AND WILL
CONTINUE MONTHLY THROUGH AUGUST
AS WE EXPLORE THE VARIOUS TOPICS
AS LAID OUT IN STATUTE AND
REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED IN A
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE BY THE
DEPARTMENT. THE WORKGROUP
MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE INFORMATION
AFTER EACH MEETING THAT
DOCUMENTS THE CONVERSATIONS AND
THE TOPICS COVERED AT EACH
MEETING. WORKGROUP MEMBERS WILL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
FEEDBACK AND ENSURE ANY
CONVERSATIONS, ISSUES OR
CONCERNS ARE DOCUMENTED. THESE
ITERATIVE DOCUMENTS WILL BE USED
BY THE DEPARTMENT TO DRAFT THE
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE, WITH
THE GOAL OF BEING TRANSPARENT
WITH THE WORKGROUP WITH REGARDS
TO THE INFORMATION THAT WILL BE
INCLUDED IN THAT REPORT TO THE
LEGISLATURE. AND SO, FOR THE
NEXT ITEM IS AN UPDATE OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC
VISIT VERIFICATION. SO TO COMPLY
WITH UPDATED CMS DIRECTION
EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2023, ALL
NON-LIVE IN IHS AND WPC'S
PROVIDERS ARE REQUIRED TO
ELECTRONICALLY CHECK IN AND OUT
FOR EACH RECIPIENT. THEY WORK
FOR AT THE START AND END OF EACH
WORKDAY, AND HAVE THEIR
GEOLOCATION CAPTURED ONLY IF
THEY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS
BEING IN THE RECIPIENT'S HOME AT
EITHER ONE OF THOSE TIMES. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE, TOO. I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT PROVIDERS GEO
LOCATION IS NOT CAPTURED WHEN
THEY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS
BEING IN THE COMMUNITY, AND
THAT'S GUIDANCE PROVIDED TO US
FROM CMS, CURRENTLY, THE
ADOPTION RATE WE'RE SEEING IS
BETWEEN 55 AND 60, WE CONTINUE
TO FOCUS ON COMPLIANCE CGRTS
THROUGH PROVIDING TRAINING,
OUTREACH AND NOTICES TO
NON-LIVING PROVIDERS WHO
IDENTIFY WHO ARE NOT USING THE
EVT SYSTEM, BUT SHOULD BUT
SHOULD BE, THERE ARE NO
PENALTIES FOR IHSS PROVIDERS FOR
MAKING ERRORS, FORGETTING OR NOT
USING THE SYSTEM. WE'RE REALLY
FOCUSED ON COMPLIANCE AND
GETTING FOLKS TO DO THE
REQUIREMENT, THE FEDERAL
REQUIREMENT, SO THAT WE CAN, DO
WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH REGARDS
TO THAT, WE DID BEGIN THE
CERTIFICATION PROCESS WITH CMS
IN JANUARY OF 2024, WE'RE STILL
WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS,
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO EXPRESSED
CONCERNS FROM CMS WITH REGARDS
TO OUR EVV SOLUTION. THUS FAR.
SO, WE'RE WE FEEL PRETTY
CONFIDENT THAT OUR COMPLIANCE
AND WILL BE CERTIFIED HERE
PRETTY SOON, I KNOW. NEXT I WILL
MOVE ON TO THE IHSS BACKUP
PROVIDER SYSTEM. THE PRESSURE.
GOSH. AND YOU GUYS ASKED SO MANY
QUESTIONS. SO YOU KNOW AND
THEY'RE GREAT QUESTIONS. NOW YOU
WISH MISS RAMSEY WAS HERE
INSTEAD OF YOU. WHEW. ALL RIGHT,
SO FOR THE BACKUP PROVIDER
SYSTEM, AFTER REVIEWING THE DATA
OF THE BACKUP SYSTEM, IT SEEMS
AS THOUGH THE UTILIZATION RATE
IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN WE
ANTICIPATED. SO IN RESPONSE,
WHAT WE DID WAS WE ISSUED A
SURVEY OUT TO OUR COUNTY AND
PUBLIC AUTHORITY PARTNERS TO TRY
TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE
WERE ANY POSSIBLE BARRIERS TO
ACCESS OR IF THERE WERE
CHALLENGES WITH THE CURRENT
SYSTEM. WE THE SURVEY ENDED AT
THE END OF FEBRUARY. WE GOT 31
RESPONSES. SO THAT WAS VERY
GOOD, SOME OF THE PRELIMINARY
TAKEAWAYS WERE THAT THERE WERE
DIFFICULTIES WITH FINDING ENOUGH
PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE BACKUP
SERVICES DUE TO EXISTING
PROVIDER AVAILABILITY, DISTANCE,
LANGUAGE BARRIERS, AND
OCCASIONAL RECIPIENT REFUSALS.
THAT HAPPENS EVERY ONCE IN A
WHILE, THERE WAS ALSO A REQUEST
FOR US TO PROVIDE SOME MATERIALS
THAT COUNTIES CAN USE TO INFORM
PROVIDERS, AT ORIENTATIONS AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO KIND OF
LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR
THEM. AND AS WELL AS MATERIALS
THAT CAN BE PROVIDED TO
RECIPIENTS AT REASSESSMENTS. WE
ARE WORKING ON ALL OF THAT,
WE'RE STILL REVIEWING THE SURVEY
DATA, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH OUR COUNTY AND PUBLIC
AUTHORITY PARTNERS TO SHORE UP
THE PROGRAM AND FIGURE OUT HOW
WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE UTILIZING
IT. SO THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR
US. AND THEN FINALLY, FOR
MEDI-CAL REDETERMINATIONS, WE'VE
REALLY MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT
TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF
MEDI-CAL REDETERMINATIONS ON
IHSS RECIPIENTS. WE CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH DCS AND OUR
STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS, COUNTIES,
EVERYBODY, TO PROMOTE PUBLIC
INFORMATION THÀNH EDUCATION AND
OUTREACH TO REMIND IHSS
RECIPIENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR
ANNUAL MEDI-CAL ELIGIBILITY
RENEWALS. AND WE DO THIS THROUGH
EMAILS, LETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA,
AND BANNERS ON OUR ELECTRONIC
SERVICES PORTAL, WHICH IS USED
BY MOST RECIPIENTS TO APPROVE
TIME SHEETS FOR THEIR PROVIDERS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WORK WITH OUR
COUNTY PARTNERS AND PROVIDE THEM
MONTHLY FILES, DATA FILES THAT
INCLUDE A LIST OF ALL RECIPIENTS
WHO REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THAT
MEDI-CAL REDETERMINATION THE
FOLLOWING MONTH. SO THIS WILL
ALLOW COUNTIES TO IDENTIFY THE
FOLKS THAT NEED A PERSONAL
ASSISTANCE, AND THEY ALSO HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THEIR OWN
OUTREACH TO THAT POPULATION, SO
FAR WE'RE SEEING THE NUMBER OF
TERMINATE TERMINATED CASES FOR
NÓ, MEDI-CAL ARE, FALLING FAR
BELOW LEVELS SEEN PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC. SO THE MONTHLY AVERAGE
THAT WE'VE SEEN IS ABOUT 232
RECIPIENTS LOSING THEIR BEING
TERMINATED FOR NÓ, MEDI-CAL, THE
MONTHLY AVERAGE PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC WAS 1300 INDIVIDUALS
PER MONTH, LOSING THEIR MEDI-CAL
FOR, FOR NOT DOING THE
REDETERMINATION PROCESS. SO THE
ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING
SEEM TO HAVE A LOT OF BENEFITS.
WE FEEL VERY POSITIVE. BUT BUT
WE ALSO ARE CONTINUING TO
MONITOR THE DATA. THAT'S THE
OTHER PIECE. AND WORK WITH THE
HCS OR COUNTY PARTNERS TO
IDENTIFY IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES
THAT ARISE SO THAT WE CAN
RESPOND ACCORDING AND MINIMIZE
ANY IMPACTS TO IHSS RECIPIENTS.
AND SO THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF MY
REQUESTED UPDATES. I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MAY HAVE Ó. EILEEN KUBINSKI
WITH THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, IHSS IS A
KEY STRATEGY IN HELPING OLDER
CALIFORNIANS ACCESS HOME BASED
CARE TO LIVE SAFELY IN THEIR
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES, AVOIDING
COSTLY INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND
PREMATURE DEATH. THE DEMAND FOR
IHSS SERVICES CONTINUES TO GROW
AS YOUR AGENDA HAS SO THOROUGHLY
NOTED, BOTH DUE TO THE AGING OF
THE STATE'S POPULATION, BUT ALSO
DUE TO THE EXPANSIONS RECENTLY
IN THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM AND THE
ELIMINATION OF THE MEDI-CAL
ASSET TEST. COUNTY HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCIES REMAIN
COMMITTED TO STAND AND SERVE THE
NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION. OUR
SOCIAL WORKERS WORK WITH
CONSUMERS TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY FOR IHSS SERVICES,
TO ASSESS THEIR SERVICE NEEDS
AND THEIR HOURS OF SERVICE, AND
PERFORM REASSESSMENTS. WE HELP
CONSUMERS NAVIGATE THE IHSS AND
MEDI-CAL SYSTEMS, WE PROVIDE
CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, AND WE
GENERALLY HELP ENSURE THE
WELL-BEING OF IHSS RECIPIENTS.
AND AS YOU HEARD, LARA DISCUSS,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS ISSUES
THAT COME UP WHERE WE'RE WORKING
VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR STATE
PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE
MEETING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF IHSS
CONSUMERS DURING DIFFERENT STATE
SITUACIÓN INS, THE MEDI-CAL
UNWINDING DISASTERS, AND SO
FORTH. BUT SUFFICIENT
ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING IS
PROBABLY OUR BIGGEST BARRIER
RIGHT NOW FOR COUNTY AGENCIES TO
RETAIN AND BUILD A WORKFORCE TO
PROCESS THESE NEW APPLICATIONS
AND REASSESSMENTS IN AN ACCURATE
, CONSISTENT AND TIMELY MANNER,
AND BE RESPONSIVE TO CLIENT
NEEDS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE
CURRENT STATE BUDGETING
METHODOLOGY FOR FUNDING COUNTY
IHSS ADMINISTRATION HAS KNOWN
SHORTCOMINGS. IT DOESN'T FUND
THE ACTUAL COSTS OF IHSS SOCIAL
WORKERS, AND IT DOESN'T COUNT
ALL OF THE REQUIRED IHSS
ADMINISTRATIVE WORKLOAD. AND
THESE METHODOLOGICAL GAPS HAVE
LED TO A SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALL
IN STATE FUNDING. IN FACT, IN
22, 23 COUNTIES INVESTED $51
MILLION OF THEIR OWN FUNDS TO
COVER THE SHORTFALL IN STATE
FUNDING. BUT AS COUNTY REALIGN,
REVENUES STAGNATE, OUR ABILITY
TO COMPENSATE FOR THE STATE
SHORTFALL, WITH OUR LOCAL
INVESTMENTS IS GOING TO IS GOING
TO SHRINK AND DISAPPEAR, AND
THAT'S GOING TO EXACERBATE THE
FOLLOWING PROBLEMS. IT'S GOING
TO CONTRIBUTE TO HIGHER WORKER
CASELOADS IN MANY COUNTIES,
WHICH IN TURN CONTRIBUTES TO
COUNTIES INABILITY TO RECRUIT
AND RETAIN STAFF AND MEET THE
NEEDS OF AN INCREASING ELDERLY
AND VULNERABLE POPULATION.
CASELOADS OF 304 HUNDRED
CONSUMERS PER SOCIAL WORKER ARE
NOT IN COMMON. IN SOME COUNTIES,
AND LÀ COUNTY, IHSS WORKERS
TESTIFIED TO CASELOADS OF UP TO
500 CASES PER WORKER IN THE
EARLIER SENATE HEARING THIS
YEAR. THESE CASELOAD LEVELS ARE
UNACCEPTABLY HIGH. THIS WILL
HAMPER COUNTIES ABILITY TO
TIMELY AND ACCURATELY ADMINISTER
THE PROGRAM AND RESPOND TO NEEDS
OF RECIPIENTS AND PROVIDERS. AS
OF FEBRUARY 2024, 20 COUNTIES
WERE ACTUALLY ALREADY SUBJECT TO
QUALITY ASSURANCE ACTION PLANS
FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH
TIMELINESS REQUIREMENTS FOR
APPLICATION OR REASSESSMENT
PROCESSING, OR BOTH. AND OUR
PERFORMANCE IS CONTINUING TO
DETERIORATE. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER MCKENNA AND HER
STAFF FOR CHAMPIONING A BUDGET
REQUEST THAT WE HAVE FOR $51
MILLION GENERAL FUND ON A ONE
TIME BASIS TO COUNTY HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCIES FOR IHSS
ADMINISTRATION IN 2425 AND
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE THAT WOULD
REQUIRE DSS TO WORK WITH US,
COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES
AND COUNTY WORKER
REPRESENTATIVES TO UPDATE THE
EXISTING IHSS ADMINISTRATION
BUDGET METHODOLOGY PERIODICALLY,
AND BEGINNING IN THE 2526 FISCAL
YEAR, THIS TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE
IS CONSISTENT WITH, THE CURRENT
STATUTORY APPROACH THAT'S BEEN
ADOPTED FOR UPDATING OUR OTHER
MAJOR COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE
ALLOCATIONS, INCLUDING CALWORKS
ELIGIBILITY, FUNDING AND
CALFRESH ADMIN. AND WE BELIEVE
THAT AN APPROACH OF REGULARLY
UPDATING THE BUDGET METHODOLOGY
WILL HELP KEEP IHSS ADMIN
FUNDING SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE
THAT SUFFICIENT SERVICES,
ESSENTIAL SERVICES, CAN CONTINUE
TO BE DELIVERED. WE THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS VITAL
PROGRAM AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. OH NO. YOU'RE UP
NEXT. GREAT. THANK YOU, KIM
ROTHSCHILD, THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC
AUTHORITIES FOR IHSS. I WANT TO
ECHO ALL THE COMMENTS OF MY
COLLEAGUES FROM QUDAH, AS WELL
AS CDSS, AND ASIDE FROM BEING
THE EMPLOYER OF RECORD, THE
PUBLIC AUTHORITY'S MAIN CORE
FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE A
COMPREHENSIVE LIVE PROVIDER
REGISTRY, INCLUDING THE BACKUP
REGISTRY. AND SO WITH THAT, THEY
CONNECT THE CAREGIVERS WITH THE
CONSUMERS. THEY ALSO INVESTIGATE
THE BACKGROUND OF POTENTIAL
PROVIDERS. THEY ENROLL AND
ORIENT THE NEW PROVIDERS. THEY
PROVIDE SKILLED TRAINING FOR
CONSUMERS AND PROVIDERS, AND
THEY SEEK INPUT AND GUIDANCE
FROM THE IHSS ADVISORY
COMMITTEES, WHICH AS WE KNOW,
THIS IS A CONSUMER DRIVEN
PROGRAM. SO THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. WE THANK THE GOVERNOR
AND THE LEGISLATURE FOR
SUPPORTING OUR ADMIN FUNDING.
BUT AS EILEEN MENTIONED, THIS IS
CRITICAL BECAUSE AS CASELOAD
CONTINUES TO INCREASE, THE
STAFFING NEEDS TO KEEP UP WITH
THE CASELOAD ON BOTH THE PUBLIC
AUTHORITY SIDE AS WELL AS THE
WELFARE DIRECTOR SIDE, P.A.S
WORK HARD. BUT AS I MENTIONED,
WITH LIMITED STAFF TO FIND AND
RETAIN ENOUGH PROVIDERS TO MEET
THE DEMAND, ESPECIALLY ON THE
BACKUP PROGRAM, WE JUST WANT TO
ENSURE THAT THEY'RE STAFFED AND
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE
NEEDS OF THE CALIFORNIANS THAT
ARE CALLING IN ON THESE
PROGRAMS. SO TYPICALLY, WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT THE BACKUP PROVIDER
PROGRAM. THE CASES THAT ARE
COMING IN ARE URGENT AND
NECESSARY, AND IT'S NOT UNCOMMON
TO FIND PA STAFF WORKING LATER
INTO THE EVENING OR TAKING CALLS
ON A WEEKEND IN ORDER TO MEET
THOSE NEEDS AND DO WHAT IT TAKES
TO PROVIDE A PROVIDER FOR THAT,
THAT CONSUMER NEED. AND SO WE'RE
HEARING THAT THERE'S 6 TO 8
HOURS PER CASE, THE ESTIMATED
METHODOLOGIES, ESTIMATED 1 TO 2
HOURS. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE
WITH YOU THAT WE WISH IT WAS 1
TO 2 HOURS, BUT IT'S TAKING A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND,
AND WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO
MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERSON IS
NOT, STRANDED OR IN A SITUATION
WHERE THEIR SAFETY IS, IS OF
CONCERN. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC
AUTHORITIES ARE WORKING HARD AS
MANDATED WITH THE WITH THE
BACKUP PROVIDER PROGRAM,
ADDITIONALLY, WANTED TO ECHO THE
APPRECIATION, WE KNOW THAT
RETENTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THE CARE, FOR THE PROVIDERS AND
THE CARE FOR, NOT ONLY THE
CONSUMERS, BUT BEING ABLE TO
CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE TRAINING
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO
RETENTION WITH CAREER PATHWAYS,
HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL. AND SO WE
APPRECIATE THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH
THE DEMENTIA POPULATION, THIS IS
NOT AN AREA WHERE, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE
SIGNS OR HOW TO CARE FOR THEIR
LOVED ONES WITH THIS PARTICULAR
CHALLENGING, ILLNESS. SO THOSE
ARE AREAS WHERE WE'RE
APPRECIATIVE AND WE HOPE THAT
THERE'S CONTINUED SUPPORT, ALONG
THOSE PATHS, I S¼ IS THE MOST
COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO, TO REALLY
KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE
INSTITUTIONAL CARE SETTINGS,
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEING
HOMELESS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL
THE NECESSARY ISSUES SURROUNDING
POPULATIONS. AND SO THIS IS SUCH
A VITAL PROGRAM THAT WE'RE HERE
JUST TO ASK FOR CONTINUED
SUPPORT, NOT TO CUT THOSE
SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING FOR BOTH
THE WELFARE DIRECTOR SIDE AND
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY SIDE. SO WE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ARE
HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
ELISABETTA'S DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD.
ELIO JOAN TROTTER, LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE SO WHILE THERE
ARE NO NEW MAJOR PROPOSALS FOR
ASSESSING THE BUDGET, THERE ARE
A FEW THINGS WE ARE CONTINUING
TO MONITOR AND EXPECT SOME
UPDATES FOR, MAY REVISION.
FIRSTLY WE ARE ALWAYS MONITORING
THE CASELOAD FOR THIS PROGRAM
AND CHECKING THE ADMINISTRATION
ESTIMATES AGAINST THE MOST
RECENT ACTUAL CLAIMS FOR THE
PROGRAM. AND AS THE AGENDA
NOTES, WE HAVE NOTED SOME A
DECLINE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF
AUTHORIZED CASES WHO ARE
SUBMITTING TIME SHEETS AND
CLAIMING HOURS, WE'VE SEEN THIS
DROP FROM 91% OF AUTHORIZED
CASES BEING CLAIMED PRE-COVID TO
ABOUT 88% POST COVID. SECOND,
WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE
VARIOUS EXPANSIONS AND UPDATES
TO MEDI-CAL, WHICH HAVE
IMPLICATIONS FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IN-HOME
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AS SHOWN IN
THE AGENDA. THESE INCLUDE THE
REPEAL OF THE MEDI-CAL ASSET
LIMIT, THE CONTINUED EXPANSION
OF FULL SCOPE MEDI-CAL TO
UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS
REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS
, AND THE RESUMPTION OF THE
MEDI-CAL REDETERMINATION
REDETERMINATION PROCESS, WHICH
WAS SUSPENDED DURING THE COVID
19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
LASTLY WE ARE CONTINUING TO
MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND
UTILIZATION OF MORE OF THE MORE
RECENT IHSS INITIATIVES,
INCLUDING THE PERMANENT BACK-UP
PROVIDER SYSTEM, THE ELIMINATION
OF THE MINOR RECIPIENT PROVIDER
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND
THE RECENT INCREASES TO PAID
SICK LEAVE. GIVEN THE
SIGNIFICANT BUDGET PROBLEM, WE
ARE LOOKING AT THESE NEW
INITIATIVES AND CASELOAD TRENDS
THROUGH A LENS OF DETERMINING
WHETHER OR NOT ACTUAL COSTS ARE
COMING IN, COMING IN IN LINE
WITH THE BUDGETED EXPENDITURE
LEVELS, IN CASES WHERE COSTS ARE
COMING IN LOWER THAN BUDGETED,
BUDGETED RIGHTSIZING THE BUDGET
WITH ACTUAL EXPENDITURES COULD
RESULT IN BUDGETARY SAVINGS. WE
WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
ACTUAL DATA AS IT BECOMES
AVAILABLE AND HOPE TO REPORT
BACK AT MAY. REVISION THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, OBVIOUSLY THE
LEGISLATURE IS VERY ONE OF, AND
THIS COMMITTEES FEELS IS VERY
IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THE
STATEWIDE BARGAINING REPORT,
ONE, IS THERE ANY ISSUES THAT
MAY PROHIBIT IT FROM COMING TO
THE LEGISLATURE ON TIME? WE DO
NOT ANTICIPATE ANY. WE ARE
WORKING. WE WILL WORK AS HARD AS
WE CAN TO GET IT THROUGH
EVERYBODY. IT NEEDS TO GET
THROUGH SO IT GETS THERE ON
TIME. OKAY. APPRECIATE THAT. AND
THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW,
REDETERMINATION IS A BIG PROBLEM
, WITH MANY PROGRAMS, NOT JUST
THIS ONE. WHAT ELSE CAN WE BE
DOING TO KEEP OUR SENIORS
STABLE, DURING THE
REDETERMINATION PROCESS,
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE I, I DO NOTE
THAT WE'VE SEEN A DECREASE IN
TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF THOSE WHO
ARE GETTING KICKED OFF OF THEIR
SERVICES. HOWEVER, YOU SET 202.
200? YES, 100. WHAT ELSE CAN WE
BE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT,
NUMBER ONE, ARE WE DOING THE
REDETERMINING PROCESS MORE THAN
WE NEED TO, OR ARE WE DOING IT
BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
RIGHT NOW? SO AS, AS FROM THE
IHSS PERSPECTIVE, WE REALLY
DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE
REDETERMINATION PROCESS. WE'RE
ACTUALLY A SERVICE OF MEDI-CAL,
WHICH IS KIND OF WHERE IHS, IHS
FALLS INTO THIS AND WHERE OUR
RECIPIENTS ARE IMPACTED, THE
COUNTIES WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
COUNTIES. SO WE ALREADY HAVE A
PROCESS WHERE IF SOMEBODY LOSES
THEIR MEDI-CAL, THEY
AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO THE IHSS
RESIDUAL PROGRAM. SO WE LOSE THE
FEDERAL DOLLARS ASSOCIATED TO
THOSE CASES, BUT THEY KEEP THEIR
BENEFITS WHILE THE COUNTIES ARE
ABLE TO, WORK WITH THOSE
INDIVIDUALS TO GET THEM BACK ON
THE PROGRAM. SO WE'RE WE DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR THEM NOT
TO LOSE THEIR BENEFITS, FROM
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. AND I
THINK THAT AS WE'VE KIND OF
MOVED ALONG AND THERE ARE THAT'S
BEEN FOR US A VERY, I NOT
NECESSARILY A POSITIVE, BUT IT
HAS BEEN A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO
KEEPING PEOPLE ON THEIR
BENEFITS. WAS THE PERCENTAGE OF
THOSE WHO END UP IN THE RESIDUAL
PROGRAM THAT END UP GETTING
PLACED BACK ON MEDI-CAL. SO
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD
NOT KNOW THAT SINCE IT'S A
MEDI-CAL. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENS ON THE MEDI-CAL SIDE OF
THE HOUSE, NOT THE IHSS SIDE OF
THE HOUSE. SO WHAT WE HAVE IS
AUTOMATED THÀNH. SO HOW WE FIND
OUT SOMEBODY LOSES THEIR
MEDI-CAL IS WE GET A
NOTIFICATION FROM DHCS THROUGH
OUR PAYROLLING SYSTEM. THE
COUNTY'S THEN THE SOCIAL WORKERS
ARE ALERTED, AND THEN THEY START
TO WORK WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS
FROM THE IHSS SIDE TO HELP THEM
GET BACK ON THEIR ON THEIR
MEDI-CAL. SO FOR US, WE KIND OF
GET EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING
HAPPENS FOR US IN ARREARS, WE'RE
NOT REALLY AT THE FRONT, PART OF
THAT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, I
THINK, SINCE WE'VE, SINCE
MEDI-CAL REDETERMINATIONS HAVE
BEEN HAPPENING, THAT WE ACTUALLY
PROVIDE AND GET A FILE AHEAD OF
TIME THAT FOR COUNTIES TO KNOW
WHO'S GOING TO BE, UP FOR THEIR
RENEWAL FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH.
SO THIS THIS IS A NEW PROCESS
FOR ALL OF US. I THINK THAT WE
CAN SEE THAT WITH SOME PROACTIVE
APPROACHES THAT WE'VE BEEN
TAKING WITH EVERYBODY IN
PARTNERSHIP, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS, COUNTIES,
PUBLIC AUTHORITIES, OURSELVES,
DCS, WE SEE THAT WHEN WE MAKE A
CONCERTED EFFORT, WE ACTUALLY
GET GREAT RESULTS. SO WE WENT
FROM, YOU KNOW, AND WE DON'T
WANT ANYBODY TO LOSE THEIR
BENEFITS. BUT, GOING FROM 1300
DOWN TO 200 IN A, IN A PROGRAM
OF 750,000 PEOPLE, IS NOT A BAD.
YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I
FEEL VERY PROUD OF, THAT WE
ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THIS PROCESS. AND
IT ACTUALLY WORKED. AND WE'RE
SEEING THOSE BENEFITS AND OUR
AND OUR RECIPIENTS ARE SEEING
THOSE BENEFITS. MISS, URBANSKI,
IF YOU CAN, SEE IF YOU CAN GET
SOME ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION AS
WELL. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE
COUNTIES ARE THINKING. IN TERMS
OF, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO ARE,
GETTING KICKED OFF OF MEDI-CAL
INTO THE BACKUP PROGRAM, HOW
MANY OF THOSE ACTUALLY MAKE IT
ACTUALLY MAKE IT BACK? YEAH.
WE'LL SEE IF WE HAVE ACCESS TO
ANY OF THAT DATA THROUGH THE TWO
SYSTEMS ON THAT. BUT CHURN IS
ABSOLUTELY AN ISSUE. YES. AND SO
THE WORK THAT THE STATE THAT
WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE STATE
IN TERMS OF BEING MORE
PROACTIVE, AND KNOWING IN
ADVANCE WHO IS UP FOR
REDETERMINATION, DOES HELP
PREVENT THAT CHURN THAT WE SEE
WHEN FOLKS LOSE THEIR MEDI-CAL
ELIGIBILITY, FOR WHATEVER
REASON, COME BACK ONTO THE
PROGRAM, THAT'S DEFINITELY BEEN
REDUCED WITH WITH THESE EFFORTS.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. LOOK
FORWARD TO THE MAY REVISION ON
THESE SUBJECTS, AND WE WILL HOLD
THIS ISSUE OPEN, AND WE'LL MOVE
ON TO ISSUE NUMBER EIGHT. IHSS
CAREER PATHWAYS. GOOD AFTERNOON.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JACKSON CLARE
RAMSEY, CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES, HERE TO SPEAK ON IHSS
CAREER PATHWAYS, AND YOU WILL
GET TO SEE A LOT OF ME OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL PANELS. SO GLAD YOU
GOT MISS DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
FILIPINO FIRST, AS YOU HAVE
HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IN
EARLIER PANELS, THE IHSS CAREER
PATHWAYS PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM
THAT WAS STOOD UP UNDER THE HOME
AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES
SPENDING PLAN THAT HELPS TRAIN
IHSS AND WAIVER PERSONAL CARE
SERVICES PROVIDERS TO INCREASE
THE QUALITY OF CARE, TO ASSIST
WITH RECRUITING AND RETAINING
PROVIDERS, AND TO PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER
ADVANCEMENTS TO PROVIDERS
THROUGH TRAINING. WE HAVE FIVE
PATHWAYS A GENERAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY PATHWAY, ADULT EDUCATION,
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS, AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, COMPLEX
PHYSICAL CARE NEEDS, AND
TRANSITIONING TO IN-HOME CARE
AND COMMUNITY BASED LIVING. WE
WERE ABLE TO BRING TWO VENDORS
ON BOARD TO PROVIDE THESE
TRAININGS AND TO WORK WITH
SEVERAL OF OUR COUNTIES. WE
LAUNCHED CLASSES IN OCTOBER OF
2022, WITH OUR COUNTY CLASSES
AVAILABLE STATEWIDE, AND THEN IN
JANUARY 2023, ADDED MORE CLASSES
THROUGH THOSE TWO ADDITIONAL
VENDORS WHO ARE HOMEBRIDGE AND
THE CENTER FOR CAREGIVER
ADVANCEMENT. WE ADDED ADDITIONAL
CLASSES IN MARCH OF 2023, AND
THEN IN JANUARY OF 2024, DOUBLED
THE NUMBER OF CLASSES AGAIN. AS
OF MARCH 31ST, 2024, MORE THAN
18,000 PROVIDERS HAVE COMPLETED
AT LEAST ONE TRAINING CLASS. AND
OUR EXPERIENCES THAT TRAIN,
EXCUSE ME, PROVIDERS ARE TAKING
NUMEROUS TRAINING COURSES AND
ARE BENEFITING FROM A VARIETY OF
CLASSES. WE HAVE WORKED
CONTINUOUSLY WITH OUR TRAINING
VENDORS AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY
RECEPTIVE TO CONTINUALLY
INCREASING CLASSES TO MEET THE
DEMAND, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HIGH
. AS OF THE BEGINNING OF THIS
YEAR. WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT
INCREASE IN CLAIMS FROM THE
BEGINNING OF JANUARY THROUGH THE
MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY, WE HAVE
RECEIVED MORE THAN 40,000 CLAIMS
FOR BOTH TRAINING TIMES AND FOR
INCENTIVE PAYMENTS. SEEING
AGAIN, SEEING AN INCREASE WITH
THOSE INCREASED CLASSES. AND WE
DO REACH OUT TO PROVIDERS ON A
REGULAR BASIS THROUGH A NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT METHODS, AS PART OF
THOSE 18,000 PROVIDERS OVER THE
COURSE OF OUR, RUNNING THE
PROGRAM, WE RECEIVED MORE THAN
440,000 CLAIMS FOR TRAINING
TIME. AND WE HAVE RECEIVED,
APPROXIMATELY 19,500 INCENTIVE
ONE PAYMENTS, WHICH ARE FOR
COMPLETING 15 HOURS OF TRAINING
IN ANY PATHWAY, 2255 INCENTIVE,
TWO TRAINING, INCENTIVES. THAT'S
FOR THE 15 HOURS PLUS ONE MONTH
OF WORK FOR A RECIPIENT. AND NOW
860 OF OUR INCENTIVE THREES,
WHICH ARE 15 HOURS PLUS WORKING
FOR THE SAME RECIPIENT FOR SIX
MONTHS, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE
WILL CONTINUE TO SEE HIGHER
LEVELS OF CLAIMS, NOW THAT WE
HAVE MORE CLASSES AVAILABLE. AND
NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE MEETING THE
GOALS OF HITTING THE MARKS FOR
INCENTIVES AND THAT THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO CLAIM THEM, WE DID HAVE
A QUESTION RELATED TO THE
CURRENT SPENDING OF 41 MILLION
OUT OF THE FULL 295 MILLION, WE
WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON AT MAY
REVISE, BUT WE ARE CURRENTLY
MONITORING CLASS ATTENDANCE,
TRAINING AND INCENTIVE CLAIMS TO
HELP US UPDATE OUR PROJECTIONS
BASED ON ACTUALS. AND WE SHOULD
HAVE ENOUGH DATA, AS I SAID BY
MAY, REVISE TO IDENTIFY WHETHER
THERE WILL BE REMAINING FUNDS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE WORKING HARD TO
MAKE SURE WE EXPEND ALL FUNDS
WITHIN THIS PROGRAM, WE ALSO
WANT TO JUST NOTE THAT, WE ARE
CONTINUING TO PAY CLAIMS AND, DO
SEE A LITTLE BIT OF LAG BETWEEN
WHEN PEOPLE ACTUALLY TAKE THE
CLASSES AND WHEN THEY SUBMIT
THEIR CLAIMS, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
NOT REQUIRED TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE
CLAIMS. SO WE MAY HAVE, PEOPLE
CONTINUALLY INCREASING THEIR
CLAIMS AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE
END DATE, I DID ALSO WANT TO
SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT END
DATE, AND CLARIFY SOMETHING IN
THE AGENDA. FIRST, WE DID ISSUE
AN ALL COUNTY LETTER 2402 TO
ANNOUNCE AND DEFINE THE
PARAMETERS OF OUR EXTENSION OF
CAREER PATHWAYS THAT CAME WITH
THE PASSAGE OF OUR LAST BUDGET
ACT. WE HAVE EXECUTED CONTRACTS
WITH TRAINING VENDORS AND
INFORMED COUNTIES AND PUBLIC
AUTHORITIES THAT WE WANT TO
EXTEND CLASSES THROUGH THE END
OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. THAT IS
AS LATE AS WE COULD RUN CLASSES,
AND MEET OUR CLOSED DOWN
DEADLINE FOR ALL SPENDING BEING
COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 31ST,
2024. BUT WE ARE ALLOWING PEOPLE
TO CLAIM INCENTIVES THROUGH THE
END OF OCTOBER OF 2024, AND THEN
CLAIMS ARE DUE BY NOVEMBER 15TH,
OF THIS YEAR SO THAT WE CAN PAY
OUT ALL CLAIMS AND HAVE ALL,
FUNDS LIQUIDATED BY DECEMBER
31ST TO MEET THE TIMELINE
REQUIRED BY THE HCBS SPENDING
PLAN, WITH THAT, I'LL PAUSE AND
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE PROGRAM. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS. TIFFANY WIGHTON WITH
SEIU CALIFORNIA. ON BEHALF OF
OUR OVER 700,000 WORKERS ACROSS
THE STATE, BUT IN PARTICULAR
OVER 400,000 LONG TUM CARE
WORKERS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH
ARE IHSS PROVIDERS, THE HOME
CARE WORKFORCE, INCLUDING THE
IHSS WORKFORCE, CONSISTS
DISPROPORTIONATELY OF WOMEN OF
COLOR AND IMMIGRANT WORKERS WHO
HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN EXCLUDED
FROM BASIC WORKER PROTECTIONS
AND BEEN SUBJECT TO POOR JOB
QUALITY. IT IS A WORKFORCE THAT
HAS BEEN TOO LONG UNSEEN AND
UNDER A PRECIATED. THIS
UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE IHSS CAREERS PATHWAYS
PROGRAM, A PAID AND INCENTIVIZED
TRAINING PROGRAM FOR IHSS AND
WPC'S PROVIDERS, HELPING TO
ADVANCE RACIAL, GENDER, AND
LINGUISTIC EQUITY BY REFRAMING
AND REPOSITIONING THE WORKFORCE
AS ONE TO BE INVESTED IN, ONE TO
BE INVESTED IN, ONE TO BE VALUED
AND TREATED WITH DIGNITY. THE
PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVIDE HIGH
QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE TRAINING TO
IHSS AND WPC'S PROVIDERS
STATEWIDE TO STABILIZE THE
WORKFORCE AND ENCOURAGE THE
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF
PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY
OF CARE OF CONSUMERS, AND TO
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER
ADVANCEMENT AND HOME AND HEALTH
CARE. THE CPP ALIGNS WITH THE
CALIFORNIA MASTER PLAN ON
AGING'S 2324 INITIATIVES, WHICH
WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
EARLIER TODAY TO DIVERSIFY THE
PIPELINE OF DIRECT CARE WORKERS
BY TESTING AND SCALING EMERGING
MODELS TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES
TO EXPAND CAREER PATHWAYS FOR
DIRECT CARE WORKERS, AND TO
DEVELOP AN INVENTORY OF EVIDENCE
BASED TRAINING, CAREER LADDER
AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS THAT
ARE ACCESSIBLE, PERSON CENTERED,
AND CULTURALLY AND
LINGUISTICALLY RESPONSIVE. THE
IHSS CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM
RESPONDS SPECIFICALLY TO THE
INDUSTRY'S LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES
FOR TRAINING AND CAREER
ADVANCEMENT FOR IHSS PROVIDERS.
THERE'S NO FORMAL CAREER LADDERS
EXIST WITHIN IHSS, AND PROVIDERS
SEEKING CAREER ADVANCEMENT HAVE
TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF IHSS TO OTHER
PROFESSIONS AND INDUSTRIES AS
THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO EXPAND
TO CARE FOR MORE POPULATIONS IN
NEED, WE MUST WORK TO STABILIZE
AND UPLIFT THE WORKFORCE BY
FORMALIZING TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES AND BUILDING OUT
CAREER PATHWAYS WITHIN IHSS,
WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CPP ÁP
HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS. THE
BENEFITS OF TRAINING ARE FAR
REACHING, AS PROVIDERS ARE
EMPOWERED WITH KNOWLEDGE ON
FOUNDATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED
SKILLS THROUGH THE CPP,
CONSUMERS CAN BENEFIT IMMENSELY
FROM AN IMPROVED CARE EXPERIENCE
. THE CPP PROVIDES A REMARKABLE
AND HISTORIC AMOUNT OF FUNDING
FOR TRAINING THE HOME CARE
WORKFORCE, WHICH IN RETURN WILL
ENHANCE THE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND
PROVIDE IMPROVED CARE FOR THE
CONSUMERS OF THE PROGRAM. WE
IMPLORE THE STATE TO DO
EVERYTHING IT CAN TO UTILIZE
EVERY DOLLAR ALLOCATED TO THE
PROGRAM AND MAKE GOOD ON THE
INTENT OF THE PROGRAM, I
TESTIFIED LAST YEAR ON THE SAME
ISSUE, AND ONLY 2.7 MILLION OF
THE 297 MILLION WAS SPENT. WE
WERE TOLD THE DOLLARS WOULD
DEFINITELY BE UTILIZED IN THE
INITIAL TIME FRAME. BY MARCH
2024, THE PROGRAM WAS NOT ON
TRACK TO UTILIZE THE FUNDING IN
THAT TIME FRAME, SO WE REQUESTED
AN EXTENSION WHICH IS THE
CURRENT MARCH 2025 DEADLINE, BUT
WITH ONLY 41 MILLION BEING SPENT
TO DATE AND AN ANTICIPATED 120
MILLION SPENT OVERALL, IT SEEMS
LIKE WE ARE AGAIN NOT ON TRACK
TO REALIZE THE TOTAL FUNDING AND
THUS THE TRUE INTENT OF THE
PROGRAM. WHILE WE APPRECIATE ALL
THAT GOES INTO MAKING THE
PROGRAM WORK, SIGNING CONTRACTS
WITH THE VENDORS, INCREASING THE
AMOUNT OF CLASSES AND PROCESSING
OF CLAIMS, STOPPING THIS PROGRAM
PREMATURELY BECAUSE WE COULDN'T
USE ALL THE FUNDING IN THE
PROGRAM IS GIVEN, IS
CONTRADICTORY TO THE GOALS OF
THE MASTER PLAN ON AGING AND THE
INTENT OF THE PROGRAM. WE'D LIKE
TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS COMMITTEE.
DSS IN PARTICULAR. DIRECTOR
JOHNSON AND HER STAFF HAVE BEEN
AMAZING TO WORK WITH AND
DEFINITELY HAVE BEEN OPEN TO OUR
CONVERSATIONS. DOF AND DCS TO
ENSURE THAT PROVIDERS ARE GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARPEN THEIR
CRAFT, INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE,
AND ULTIMATELY BETTER SERVE
THEIR CONSUMERS. WE ARE
COMMITTED TO EXPLORING THE
BARRIERS OF THE PROGRAM AND HOW
WE CAN MITIGATE THEM. WE TRULY
BELIEVE THAT THE CPP IS A
VALUABLE RESOURCE THAT SHOULD BE
A FORMAL TOOL EMBEDDED IN THE
IHSS PROGRAM, NOT ONLY FOR THIS
SHORT TIME, BUT ONGOING. SO IT
IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET IT
RIGHT AND WE UTILIZE ALL THE
FUNDING PROVIDED WE HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, WHICH I
WOULD ARGUE IS THE MOST
CHALLENGING WITH VENDORS THAT
HAVE BEEN DOING AN OUTSTANDING
JOB. AND WE HAVE PROVIDERS THAT
ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO ENGAGE
NOT ONLY NOW, BUT ON AN ONGOING
BASIS. SO TO CONCLUDE, I WILL
OFFER UP SOME POSSIBILITIES FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION. IF THE STATE
IS UNABLE TO GET AN EXTENSION ON
THE TIME FRAME, WE SUGGEST
HAVING CLASSES GO UNTIL THE END
OF DECEMBER, WHICH GIVES AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE PROVIDERS
TO ENGAGE AND THE STATE TO
PROCESS CLAIMS UNTIL MARCH 1ST.
DEADLINE OF NEXT YEAR. WE WOULD
ALSO HIGHLY ENCOURAGE AND
RECOMMEND LOOKING INTO ROLLING
THE REMAINING FUNDS THAT ARE
UNSPENT INTO DIFFERENT PARTS OF
THE HCBS SPENDING PLAN IN ORDER
TO FREE UP SOME GENERAL FUND
DOLLARS THAT WE THEN CAN USE
OUTSIDE OF THE EXISTING TIME
FRAME TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM. I
UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVE NATURE
WE ARE ALL EXISTING WITHIN DUE
TO THE BUDGET. HOWEVER, THIS
PROGRAM IS ALREADY UP AND
RUNNING AND THE BENEFITS NOT
ONLY ADVANCED THE WORKFORCE, BUT
CAN SAVE LIVES WITH PROVIDERS
BEING TRAINED APPROPRIATELY AND
ALSO SAVE THE STATE MONEY. THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
WITH YOU TODAY. AND I JUST MADE
IT. I HEARD IT, I WAS. I HOPE
EVERYONE WAS TAKING NOTES.
THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE ELISE PEREZ,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. NOTHING
FURTHER TO ADD AT THIS TIME. LAO
XUAN TROTTER, LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE, START THE
CLOCK. YES DON'T WORRY, DON'T
WORRY. I'LL COME IN UNDER. SO.
YEAH. NO. SIMILAR TO OUR
CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE HCBS
SPENDING PLAN, EARLIER, THIS
PROGRAM WAS SLOW TO RAMP UP, BUT
HAS REPORTED INCREASED SPENDING
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. SO
WITH THAT BEING SAID, LIKE THE
OTHER HCBS PROGRAMS, WE DO HAVE
SOME QUESTIONS ON WHETHER THE IT
IS POSSIBLE EXPAND. ALTHOUGH A
LOT OF FUNDS BEFORE THE CLOSEOUT
OF THE PROGRAM TO THAT POINT,
THE LEGISLATURE MAY WANT TO
CONSIDER THE UPDATED EXPENDITURE
FIGURES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED BY
THE DEPARTMENT AT MAY. REVISE
OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DSS,
CAN YOU, WHAT CAN WE WHAT DO YOU
, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS
THE ISSUES RAISED BY SEIU ON
THIS ISSUE? YES. THANK YOU, WE
ARE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AS, AS
TIFFANY REFERENCED IN
PARTNERSHIP TOGETHER WITH THE
UNIONS AND WITH THE VENDORS, TO
REALLY ROLL THE CLASSES OUT AND
TO GET THE WORD OUT, I THINK
WE'LL ALL AGREE THE DEMAND HAS
REALLY BEEN THERE FOR THE
CLASSES. THERE ARE OFTEN
WAITLISTS FOR THE CLASSES, AND
HENCE WHY WE DOUBLED CLASSES IN
JANUARY, BECAUSE WE SAW THAT
THERE WAS SUCH HIGH DEMAND FOR
CLASSES, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE
SURE PEOPLE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO TAKE THE CLASSES, WE ALSO ARE
TRYING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AVAILABLE. WE
ARE COMMUNICATING, AS I SAID, ON
A REGULAR BASIS, WITH OUR
PROVIDERS SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT
CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE, WHAT
INCENTIVES ARE AVAILABLE, AND TO
MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT
THEY CAN GET PAID FOR THEIR TIME
SPENT IN TRAINING, AND THAT THEY
CAN GET EARN TOWARD INCENTIVE
FEES, WE ALSO DO THINK THAT THAT
HAS HAD THE DESIRED EFFECT OF
INCREASING CLAIMS. AS I
MENTIONED, WE HAVE SEEN THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF CLAIMS COME
THROUGH AT THE BEGINNING OF 2024
AND ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THAT
AND ANTICIPATE CONTINUING TO SEE
A HIGH RATE OF CLAIMING, AS
PEOPLE ARE NOW EARNING THEIR
INCENTIVES, WE ALSO ARE
COMMITTED TO MAXIMIZING THE
POTENTIAL FOR THIS PROGRAM AND
GETTING EVERY DOLLAR SPENT. AND
SO IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS
THAT, LEGISLATURE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE US DO TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE,
UNDERSTANDING THE POSSIBILITIES
AND WORKING WITH THE UNIONS TO
CONTINUE TO GET THE WORD OUT SO
THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE AS MUCH
TRAINING AS POSSIBLE, WE'RE
HAPPY TO ALSO TAKE BACK ANY, ANY
INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GAINED
TODAY. AND WORK WITH THE UNIONS
TO DISCUSS.
IS IT FEASIBLE TO, EXTEND THE
PROGRAM TO DECEMBER? THAT'S
SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO TAKE BACK
RIGHT NOW AS IT SET UP. WE DON'T
SEE A PATHWAY TO DOING THAT
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL
FUNDS EXPENDED AND LIQUIDATED BY
DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR. WE
DON'T HAVE TRAILING MONTHS
BEYOND THAT, WHICH IS WHY WE
HAVE PUSHED CLASSES TO WHAT WE
THINK IS THE FURTHEST THAT WE
CAN DO IN END OF SEPTEMBER,
WHILE STILL GETTING ALL CLAIMS
PAID AND ALL CLAIMS SUBMITTED,
THE LARGER QUESTION OF WHETHER
OR NOT THE HCBS SPENDING PLAN
COULD HAVE LIQUIDATED FUNDS IN
2025 IS A QUESTION BEYOND OUR
DEPARTMENT, AND IS REALLY A
QUESTION, BOTH FOR DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AND FOR DCS, WHO IS
OVERSEEING THE ENTIRE HCBS
SPENDING PLAN. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS
A VERY RARE, OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF FUNDING,
NOT ONLY FUNDING, BUT ALSO
TRAINING, FOR PROFESSIONALS IF
YOU'RE AMENABLE TO IT. I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK FOR A MEETING TO BE
SCHEDULED, BY THE ADMINISTRATION
WITH, THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS, MY
OFFICE, LEGISLATIVE STAFF,
INCLUDING LAO, FOR THE CAREER
PATHWAYS PROGRAM. AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, JUST TO CONTINUE TO
HAVE A THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION
ABOUT THE CONCERNS RAISED AND
EXPLORE POSSIBLE AVENUES,
ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD INTO THE
MAY REVISE. ARE YOU AMENABLE TO
THAT? YES. WE'RE HAPPY TO, TO
WORK WITH YOU TO DISCUSS THIS
FURTHER. ALL RIGHT. LOOKING
FORWARD TO SCHEDULING THAT
MEETING. ALSO I HAVE SENT A
BUDGET PROPOSAL TO BOTH DSS AND
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE RELATED TO
IHSS WAGE INCREASES FOR
RIVERSIDE AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY,
WHO HAVE ALREADY REACHED THE 10%
PARTICIPATION CAP. ARE YOU AWARE
OF THAT PROPOSAL THAT I'VE
SUBMITTED? YES YES, I AM DOCTOR
JACKSON, AND WE'RE EVALUATING
THAT PROPOSAL. AND WHEN DO YOU
ANTICIPATE GIVING US FEEDBACK ON
THAT, LET ME CHECK BACK WITH MY
TEAM, BUT I, I BELIEVE WE'RE
LOOKING TO HAVE FEEDBACK AROUND
THE TIME OF THE MAY REVISION.
BUT LET ME CONFIRM THAT WITH OUR
TEAM, OKAY? I APPRECIATE THAT,
THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE
ON THIS ISSUE. AND, WE WILL HOLD
THIS ISSUE OPEN AND WE WILL MOVE
ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU
SO VERY MUCH. THANKS THANK YOU.
CLAIRE RAMSEY, DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU
TODAY ABOUT TWO OF OUR HOUSING
PROGRAMS. THE HOUSING DISABILITY
ADVOCACY PROGRAM, WHICH I'LL
REFER TO AS DAP, AND OUR HOME
SAFE PROGRAM AS YOU HEARD
EARLIER, THESE TWO PROGRAMS ARE
PARTICULARLY TARGETED TO SERVING
OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES. DAP WORKS TO SERVE
PEOPLE WHO ARE APPARENTLY
ELIGIBLE FOR DISABILITY
BENEFITS, TO CONNECT THEM BOTH
WITH DISABILITY BENEFITS AND
HOUSING SUPPORTS. AND OUR HOME
SAFE PROGRAM IS CONNECTED IN
WITH OUR ADULT PROTECTIVE
SERVICES PROGRAM AND SERVES
PEOPLE WHO ARE, ELIGIBLE OR
LIKELY ELIGIBLE FOR APS OR WHO
ARE IN RECEIPT OF SERVICES
CONSISTENT WITH TRIBAL LAW AND
CUSTOM, AND WHO ARE AT RISK OF
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. I
WANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW
STATISTICS ABOUT OUR PROGRAM TO
GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES. AS OF
JUNE 30TH, 2023, HOME SAFE HAS
SERVED 8756 PEOPLE AND PROVIDED
3555 INSTANCES OF HOUSING
RELATED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE CONNECTED
MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE WITH OUR
LOCAL COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM,
IN IN TERMS OF HOUSING OUTCOMES,
WE HAVE SEEN APPROXIMATELY 47%
OF OUR PARTICIPANTS EXIT TO
PERMANENT HOUSING IN FISCAL YEAR
2223. AND AS A REPORT BY DONE BY
UCSF DOCTOR KUSHAL'S CENTER ON
HOUSING. EXCUSE ME. BENIOFF
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING
INITIATIVE OF THEY DID AN
EVALUATION OF HOME SAFE A
PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IN
DECEMBER OF 2021 WHERE THEY
NOTED A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL
OUTCOMES, INCLUDING RETENTION
FOR 85% OF THEIR PARTICIPANTS OF
HOUSING, SIX MONTHS AFTER EXIT
FROM THE PROGRAM. AND IMPORTANT
FOSTERING OF STRONG CONNECTIONS
BETWEEN APS AND THE LOCAL CARE
CONTINUUM AND OUR SOCIAL
SERVICES PARTNERS. AS FOR DAP,
IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2016. TÍNH
AND SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE
PROGRAM, WHICH REALLY KICKED
OFF, SERVING PEOPLE IN 27,
EXCUSE ME, 20 1718, AND AS OF
JUNE 30TH, JUNE 30TH, 2023 HAS
SERVED, EXCUSE ME, HAS
PERMANENTLY HOUSED 3345 PEOPLE,
HAS HELPED SUBMIT 9318
DISABILITY APPLICATIONS OF WHICH
WE HAVE SEEN 1881 APPLICATIONS
APPROVED. WE HAVE A 68% APPROVAL
RATE WITHIN THIS PROGRAM, WHICH
IS FAR HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE OF 35% APPROVAL, IN
TERMS OF OUTCOMES AT EXIT, WE
HAVE SEEN 41% OF OUR
PARTICIPANTS IN DAP IN 2023 EXIT
TO PERMANENT HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS. EXITS TO
HOMELESSNESS HAVE BEEN THE LEAST
COMMON HOUSING DESTINATION, FOR
OUR PARTICIPANTS, FURTHER, WE
HAVE SEEN THAT SIX MONTHS AFTER
EXITING THE PROGRAM, 84% HAVE
RETAINED HOUSING. AGAIN, THESE
PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO HELPED FOSTER
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HOUSING
PROVIDERS, SOCIAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND MEDICAL SERVICES
FOR OUR RECIPIENTS, WE HAD A
QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
THERE WAS A BASELINE COUNTY,
MATCH EXCUSE ME, WHAT THE EFFECT
OF THE BASELINE COUNTY MATCH HAS
HAD ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF
THESE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE HAD,
REPORTS BACK TO US FROM COUNTIES
AND TRIBAL ENTITIES THAT MATCH
REQUIREMENTS CAN MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR COMMUNITIES TO
OPERATE THE PROGRAMS. AND WE
HAVE HEARD FEEDBACK THAT
EXEMPTION OF LOCAL MATCH
REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR CURRENT ONE
TIME FUNDS HAS BEEN CRITICAL,
ENABLING COUNTIES AND TRIBAL
ENTITIES TO PARTICIPATE AND
RAPIDLY GROW THEIR PROGRAMS. NOW
I'LL TURN TO THE QUESTIONS TWO
AND THREE RELATED TO DELAYS IN
OUR PROGRAMS, I WANT TO CLARIFY,
THAT OUR INTENT BEHIND THESE
PROPOSALS IS NOT TO DO ANY HARM
OR TO, IN, IN ANY WAY AFFECT
NEGATIVELY OUR PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS, OUR IDEA HERE IS
TO SMOOTH OUT OUR FUNDING AND
GIVE AN EXTRA YEAR THROUGH
REAPPROPRIATION INTO THE FISCAL
YEAR 2526 FOR BOTH HOME SAFE
WITH $65 MILLION AND DAP WITH
$50 MILLION, TO IMPLEMENT THESE
PROPOSED DELAYS, WE WOULD BE
EXTENDING THOSE TIMELINES FOR
SPENDING ON THE 2223 FUNDS FOR
AN ADDITIONAL YEAR, SUCH THAT
THEY NOW HAVE A NEW EXPENDITURE
DEADLINE OF JUNE 30TH, 2026, WE
ARE NOT PROPOSING TO WITHHOLD OR
PAUSE ANY OF OUR FUNDING IN
2025, AND WE DO NOT ARE NOT
ASKING PROGRAMS TO PAUSE OR TO
HOLD FUNDING, BUT INSTEAD
LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY
WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME TO
SPEND. AND, WE HAVE BASED THESE
PROPOSALS ON POINT IN TIME
INFORMATION WE HAD FOR THE
JANUARY THREE BUDGET. AND IF WE
WILL BE REDOING, EXCUSE ME
REVIEWING UPDATED DATA FOR MAY
REVISE AND IF THERE ARE UPDATES
TO BE MADE, THOSE WILL BE
REFLECTED IN MAY REVISION, I
WILL PAUSE THERE, BUT HAPPY TO
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. C¢M S¼
FIRST. OH GO AHEAD. OKAY GREAT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SUSIE SMITH
AND I'M DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
POLICY, PLANNING AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS IN SAN FRANCISCO. HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCY. AND I'M HERE TO
TALK ABOUT DAP AND A LITTLE BIT
OF WHAT THE ONE YEAR DELAY, THE
IMPACT THAT COULD HAVE ON OUR
PROGRAM. SO DAP AS MENTIONED, IT
SERVES PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WHO HAVE WHO ARE
DISABLED. SO HIGHEST VULNERABLE
POPULATION. AND ITS GOALS ARE TO
STABILIZE FOLKS IN PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SECURE
SSI. IT'S PROVEN TO BE A VERY
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY IN ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS AMONG DISABLED
FOLKS, BUT IT IS A MULTI-YEAR
STRATEGY. THE SSI APPLICATION
TAKES, ON AVERAGE, ABOUT 18
MONTHS CAN BE UP TO TWO YEARS,
DEPENDING ON HOW MANY LEVELS OF
REVIEW SOMEONE HAS TO GO FOR IN
TERMS OF REPEAL AND, AND,
THERE'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT
ELEMENT WHERE WE HELP CONNECT
PEOPLE TO MEDICAL CARE THAT
BUILDS THE CASE FOR THE SSI
APPLICATION. AND THAT AGAIN
TAKES SOME TIME. SO IN SAN
FRANCISCO, THE EXPANDED, THE ONE
TIME EXPANDED FUNDING ALLOWED US
TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE,
WE EXPANDED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WE COULD SERVE, UP TO 150
ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS THROUGH
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BAY LEGAL,
WHO DOES THE SSI ADVOCACY. AND
WE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED A WHOLE
NEW PROGRAM MODEL WHERE WE NOW
HAVE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF
SOCIAL WORKERS, ELIGIBILITY
WORKERS, HOUSING ASSESSORS THAT
GO FROM SHELTER TO SHELTER
ACROSS THE CITY, AND THEY ENROLL
PEOPLE IN BENEFITS. SO CALFRESH,
MEDI-CAL, SSI APPLICATIONS, THEY
DO HOUSING ASSESSMENTS FOR
COORDINATED ENTRY AND ALSO
ENROLL THEM IN IN IHSS. SO IT'S
REALLY A MODEL WHERE WE'RE GOING
DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE AND
AVOIDING SOMEONE HAVING TO MAKE
AN APPOINTMENT AND THEN MISS
THAT APPOINTMENT AND THEN NOT
GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE EXPANDED
FUNDING ENABLED US TO DO TO
REALLY PAY FOR THAT LEVEL OF
CARE, DIRECT CARE AND, AND IN
TERMS OF SOME OF THE IMPACTS
THAT IT'S HAD, WE'VE SERVED 235
CASES, AND WE HAVE A 71%
APPROVAL RATING FOR SSI, AS
MENTIONED. THAT'S FAR HIGHER
THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, WHICH
IS ONLY 31% FOR SSI APPROVAL.
AND WE, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOUSE.
SO HOLD ON. LET ME SAY HOW 70%
OF THE FOLKS THAT ENTER THE
PROGRAM AS WELL, AND THE
REMAINING PEOPLE ARE IN THE
HOUSING PROCESS. YES ALL OF THE
DAP PARTICIPANTS ARE PRIORITIZED
FOR HOUSING, SO THEY GO THROUGH
COORDINATED ENTRY PRIOR. SO WE
KNOW THAT THESE ARE FOLKS THAT
ARE GOING TO GET ACCESS TO
HOUSING AND WILL HAVE A SUBSIDY
AT THE OTHER END, BECAUSE
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, WE SAW
THE SSI, AWARD LEVELS. WE LOOK
AT HOUSING, YOU NEED TO HAVE A
SUBSIDY AT THE OTHER END JUST
BECAUSE YOU GET SSI DOES NOT
MEAN YOU'RE GOING BE ABLE TO PAY
FOR HOUSING IN PLACES LIKE SAN
FRANCISCO AND MOST PLACES ACROSS
THE STATE. SO AGAIN, THE MDT
PROVIDES DIRECT OUTREACH, MAKING
IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ENROLL
INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF
SUCCESS. WANTED TO SHARE ONE
SUCCESS STORY WITH YOU? AND THEN
I HAVE, A SLIDE JUST ON THE
IMPACT OF THE ONE YEAR DELAY. SO
THROUGH OUR OUR
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, BAY AREA
LEGAL AID MET A 43 YEAR OLD MAN
AT A NAVIGATION CENTER THIS
CLIENT HAD BEEN ASSAULTED
MULTIPLE TIMES, AND HE'S LIVED
IN BOTH SHELTERS AND ON AND OFF
THE STREETS. DUE TO HIS
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES, HE WAS
ONE OF THE HIGHEST UTILIZERS OF
SF GENERAL HOSPITAL, EMERGENCY
ROOM CARE COMMUNITY. WAITING
WITH HIM WAS EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT. AS A RESULT, THOUGH
OF WORKING WITH THE BAY LEGAL
TEAM, WHICH IS BOTH SOCIAL
WORKERS AND ATTORNEYS, THE
CLIENT NOW HAS A POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS DOCTOR,
WHO HE SEES MONTHLY AND HE DROPS
IN THE CLINIC WHEN HE'S FEELING
POORLY. HE'S SEEN A NEUROLOGIST
AND HE GETS REGULAR SPEECH
THERAPY BECAUSE OF THIS POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIP THAT HE WAS ABLE TO
ATTAIN WITH HIS DOCTOR AND THE
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES OF DAP, HIS
USE OF THE ER DRAMATICALLY
DECREASED. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT
SORT OF OTHER SYSTEMS IMPACTS,
THESE KINDS OF INTERVENTIONS ARE
ABLE TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE COSTS
IN THE LONG TERME. IN APRIL
2023, HE WAS AWARDED SSI
BENEFITS AND IN JUNE 23 HE MOVED
INTO A QUIET, PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BUILDING
WHERE ON SITE SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES IS PROVIDED. SO WHAT IS
THE BIG DEAL OF DELAYING FUNDING
FOR A YEAR? WHAT IS THE IMPACT
LIKE THAT? AND SO FOR US, THE
DELAY IN FUNDING WOULD RESULT IN
A REDUCTION FOR NEXT YEAR IN
ABOUT $2.8 MILLION. THIS WOULD
RESULT IN A TWO THIRDS, CUT IN
OUR BAY LEGAL CONTRACT ACT, AND
WE WOULD HAVE TO STOP NEW
ENROLLMENT BECAUSE WE PLANNED
FOR THE ABILITY TO CARRY THOSE
FORWARD, THOSE FUNDS FORWARD
ALREADY. SO WITHOUT HAVING TO BE
ABLE TO CARRY FORWARD THAT 2.8
MILLION, WE WOULD HAVE TO STOP
ENROLLMENT. ABOUT 70 PEOPLE
WOULD NOT BE SERVED, 30 TO 40%
OF EXISTING CLIENTS WOULD BE IN
JEOPARDY OF LOSING LEGAL
REPRESENTATION. AND THE SOCIAL
WORK SUPPORT, ABOUT 30 TO 40% OF
CURRENT CASEWORK WOULD BE
UNFUNDED. AND SO IT REALLY DOES
HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT BECAUSE
IT'S A MULTI YEAR PROGRAM. AND
WE'RE PLANNING FOR THAT FUNDING.
IT CREATES A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY
FOR OUR NONPROFITS, BAY LEGAL
RAMPED UP QUICKLY WHEN WE HAD
THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND HIRED
SOCIAL WORKERS, HIRED ATTORNEYS.
IF WE HAD TO SCALE BACK, THEY
WOULD NOT BE. WE CAN'T KIND OF
TURN ON AND OFF A SPIGOT OF
FUNDING FOR OUR PROVIDERS, SO
THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RAMP
BACK UP, WE KNOW THAT JUST I
KNOW I'M END OF MY TIME, BUT WE
UNDERSTAND THAT CWA IS WORKING
WITH CDSS TO DETERMINE WHETHER
AND HOW A DELAY WOULD BE
OPERATIONALIZED AND WHAT AMOUNT
OF FUNDING COULD BE DELAYED. AND
THERE MAY BE SOME REALLOCATION
FROM COUNTIES THAT ARE
UNDERSPENDING TO COUNTIES THAT
ARE ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY AND
PLAN FOR IT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE
JUST ASK THAT THAT CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION IS MADE AND THAT
WE LOOK AT COUNTIES THAT ARE
ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY SPEND THE
FUNDING AND BE ABLE TO AND HAVE
PLANNED FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL
FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION AS WE MAKE THE
FINAL DECISIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MR. MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I'M
KELLY CARPENTER, I'M THE PROGRAM
MANAGER FOR NEVADA COUNTY ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES. I WAS
INVITED TO SHARE OUR HOME SAFE
PROGRAM FROM A SMALL COUNTY
PERSPECTIVE, NEVADA COUNTY IS A
RURAL COUNTY WITH A POPULATION
OF APPROXIMATELY 103,000. 37% OF
THE POPULATION OVER THE AGE OF
65. NEVADA COUNTY WAS PART OF
THE ORIGINAL 2019 HOME SAFE
PILOT PROGRAM, AND WE RECEIVED
$50,000 AT THAT TIME. WE
DEVELOPED SPECIFIC HOME SAFE
CRITERIA CHECKLISTS PROGRAM RAM
INTAKE, FLOW CHARTS, TRAINING
STAFF, AND WE ATTENDED OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SHARE THIS
NEW PROGRAM. WE MOSTLY
COLLABORATED WITH OUR HOMELESS
OUTREACH TEAM, OUR AGING AND
DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, THE LOCAL HOSPITAL
211 AND OUR SOCIAL SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. WE ALL WORK TOGETHER
AND BRAIDED OUR FUNDING WHERE WE
COULD. OUR AGING AND DISABILITY
RESOURCE CENTER WAS BY FAR OUR
GREATEST PARTNER. WE MANAGED THE
HOME SAFE PROGRAM IN HOUSE WITH
OUR CURRENT STAFF OF TWO SOCIAL
WORKERS. HOME SAFE HAS BEEN A
GAME CHANGER. BEING ABLE TO MAKE
NEEDED COMMUNITY REFERRALS AND
TO RETAIN HOUSING AND HAVE THE
AVAILABLE FUNDS TO OUR ASSISTED
TO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS IS TRULY
MEANINGFUL. SUPPORT. PRIOR TO
HOME SAFE, OUR APS SOCIAL
WORKERS WERE ABLE TO GIVE
COMMUNITY REFERRALS TO
POTENTIALLY IMPROVE THEIR
SITUATION, BUT OFTENTIMES CLIENT
DIDN'T. CLIENTS DIDN'T HAVE
THOSE RESOURCES TO PURSUE THE
REFERRALS. DURING THE COURSE OF
OUR HOME SAFE FUNDING STREAMS,
OUR COUNTY EXPERIENCED
SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORMS TWO
YEARS IN A ROW AND MANAGED
THROUGH COVID. THE HOME SAFE
PROGRAM ALLOWED US TO SERVE 253
APS CLIENTS. WE ASSISTED 128
CLIENTS WITH EITHER NEW HOUSING
OR SAVE THEIR EXISTING HOUSING.
WE ASSISTED 125 CLIENTS WITH
HOUSING RELATED WRAPAROUND
SUPPORT SERVICES, HOUSING,
REHAB, HAZARD REMOVAL, MOBILE
HOME ROOFS THAT COLLAPSE DUE TO
SNOW LOADS, HOARDING CLEANUPS,
JUST TO NAME A FEW. FOR OUR
CLIENTS TO REMAIN SAFELY IN
THEIR HOME. WE RECEIVED
APPROXIMATELY $558,000 OVER THE
COURSE OF THE HOME SAFE
ALLOCATIONS. AVERAGE COST SPENT
PER CLIENT WAS $2,200. AVERAGE
AVE SERVED WAS 65 YEARS OLD,
WITH THAT BEING 58% WERE FEMALE
AND 42% WERE MALE. I WOULD LIKE
TO COMMENT ON THE FLEXIBILITY OF
THE HOME SAFE PROGRAM AND HOW
VALUABLE THAT WAS. OFTENTIMES,
OLDER ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH
DISABILITIES COME WITH MULTIPLE
AGING CHALLENGES THAT NEED TO BE
TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN
LOOKING FOR HOUSING OR TO SAVE
THEIR HOUSING. WALKING WALKERS,
INCONTINENCE, HEARING ISSUES,
VISION ISSUES, COGNITIVE
IMPAIRMENT, AND WHEELCHAIRS ALL
ADD ADDITIONAL BARRIERS. WAS
HOME HOME SAFE FLEXIBILITY
ALLOWED INTERIM HOUSING WHILE
WAITING FOR LONGER TIME HOUSING
BECAUSE OFTENTIMES OUR OLDER
ADULTS CAN'T GO TO OUR HOMELESS
SHELTER DUE TO INCONTINENCE
ISSUES. THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE
AVAILABLE STAFF TO PROVIDE THIS
LEVEL OF NEEDED CARE. WE WERE
ALSO ABLE TO ASSIST OUR LOCAL
HOSPITAL WITH PAYING FOR
TRANSITIONING CLIENTS FROM THE
HOSPITAL TO NEEDED BOARD AND
CARES, SO THE HOSPITALS DIDN'T
OBSERVE, ABSORB ALL OF THAT
FINANCIAL BURDEN. I WANTED TO
CIRCLE BACK TO THE TERME
MEANINGFUL SUPPORT AND SHARE TWO
HOME SAFE SUCCESS STORIES. WE
HAD AN ELDERLY CLIENT IN THEIR
80S LIVING WITH AN ADULT CHILD
WHO STRUGGLED WITH MENTAL
ILLNESS, WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THEM FINANCIALLY AND HAD HOARDED
THE HOUSE HIGH, WAIST HIGH, DEEP
IN EMPTY BEER CANS AND TRASH.
THE OLDER ADULT EXPERIENCED A
MENTAL BREAK AND PUSHED THE
ELDERLY DOWN ELDERLY PARENT DOWN
TO THE GROUND, POURED A GALLON
OF VODKA ON THEM AND ATTEMPTED
TO LIGHT THEM ON FIRE.
THANKFULLY, THE CLIENT WAS ABLE
TO REACH THEIR CELL PHONE AND
CALLED 911 THAT THE CLIENT'S
ADULT CHILD WAS ARRESTED AT THE
SCENE PRIOR TO HOME SAFE, WE
WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OFFER
REFERRALS FOR VICTIM WITNESS
SUPPORT AND SLIDING SCALE
COUNSELING WITH HOME SAFE FUNDS.
WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO PAY THE
BACK RENT TO SECURE THEIR
HOUSING, CHANGE THE LOCKS ON THE
HOME AND ARRANGE FOR A HOARDING
CLEANUP. OUR SECOND STORY,
SUCCESS STORY, IS OF A LOCAL
FAMILY OWNED MOBILE HOME PARK
THAT WAS PURCHASED BY AN OUTSIDE
COMPANY. THE NEW COMPANY CAME IN
AND RAISED ALL THE RENTS,
CHANGED THE ELECTRICAL BILLING
ADDRESS, WHICH IMMEDIATELY
VOIDED ALL OF THE RESIDENTS LOW
INCOME PG AND E DISCOUNT
PROGRAMS WITHOUT THE RESIDENTS
KNOWLEDGE AND INCREASED INCREASE
THEIR PROPANE COSTS. WITH THE
ASSISTANCE OF OUR AGING AND
DISABILITY RESOURCE STAFF AND
OUR HOME SAFE FUNDS, WE ASSISTED
11 ELDERLY CLIENTS, SAVE THEIR
HOUSING AND AVOID EVICTION. HOME
SAFE IS A FLEXIBLE PROGRAM THAT
HAS ALLOWED US TO MEET THE
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS.
THE MONEY HAS ENABLED OUR COUNTY
TO PROVIDE TRULY, TRULY
MEANINGFUL SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. ELISE PEREZ,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. WE WOULD
LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION PROPOSAL ALIGNS
EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY WITH
EXPENDITURE TRENDS AND PROVIDES
AN ADDITIONAL YEAR FOR
EXPENDITURE. SO THE PROPOSALS DO
NOT REDUCE FUNDING FOR GRANTEES
AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO HAVE AN
IMPACT ON PROGRAMS AND SERVICE
DELIVERY. WE NOTE THAT THESE
FUNDS ARE ONE TIME, AND AS SUCH,
ALLOCATIONS ARE LIMITED ON THE
NATURAL. SOME GRANTEES WILL
SPEND DOWN THEIR ALLOCATIONS
MORE QUICKLY THAN OTHERS. FOR
THOSE GRANTEES, FUNDING WILL NOT
LAST AT THE END OF THE PERIOD OF
THOSE AVAILABLE FUNDS. HOWEVER,
THIS ISSUE IS NOT DRIVEN BY THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL. LEO
JOHN TROTTER, LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE SO I'M GOING
THROUGH THESE DELAYS IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET. ONE OF OUR KEY
QUESTIONS WAS, AND STILL IS,
WHAT DO THESE PROPOSED DELAYS
LEAVE BEHIND FOR EXPENDITURE IN
THE BUDGET YEAR, OR QUESTIONING
GOES ALONG THE LINES OF DO THEY
LEAVE ENOUGH FUNDING BEHIND TO
ALLOW THE PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE
AT THE CURRENT LEVEL WITH THE
SERVICE LEVELS NEED TO BE
REDUCED TO REFLECT THE REDUCTION
IN FUNDING, AND WILL THE IMPACTS
BE SIMILAR ON A COUNTY BY COUNTY
LEVEL? AS WAS NOTED, NOT ALL THE
FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS HAVE
BEEN SPENT TO DATE, AND IT IS
OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE MAY
BE FUNDING AVAILABLE FROM
PREVIOUS BUDGET ALLOCATIONS TO
BE UTILIZED IN BUDGET YEAR,
THOUGH THIS MAY BE. THIS MAY
VARY ON A COUNTY BY COUNTY
BASIS. WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THE REDUCTION AMOUNT IS A POINT
IN TIME FIGURE BASED ON CURRENT
EXPENDITURE LEVELS FOR THE
PROGRAM, AND THAT THESE FIGURES
WILL BE REVISITED AGAIN AT MAY
REVISION. AS SUCH, THAT MIGHT BE
A GOOD TIME FOR THE LEGISLATURE
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET
YEAR, FUNDING LEVELS,
SPECIFICALLY ON A COUNTY BY
COUNTY LEVEL. S¼ IS IT YOUR
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROPOSED
DELAYS WILL NOT, CAUSE
APPLICANTS TO BE REJECTED OR
CURRENT CONSUMERS TO BE CUT OFF
FROM THE SERVICES THAT THEY
NEED? YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION, I JUST WANT TO
REITERATE THAT IT IS OUR INTENT
THAT NONE OF THOSE THINGS
HAPPEN. HOWEVER, WE DO
UNDERSTAND IN WORKING WITH OUR
INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES THAT
DIFFERENT COUNTIES ARE
EXPERIENCING, DIFFERENT
SITUATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO
WHETHER OR NOT THEY THINK THEY
CAN CONTINUE THE PROGRAM. AND
AS, AS WAS JUST MENTIONED, THAT
SOME COUNTIES ARE CONCERNED THAT
THEY WILL HAVE TO MODIFY THEIR,
DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO
INDIVIDUALS, SO, AS WAS
MENTIONED, WE ARE WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTIES AND
THE COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTORS
ASSOCIATION TO LOOK BOTH AT HOW
INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES WILL BE
IMPACTED AND TO SEE IF THERE IS
REDISTRIBUTION, OF FUNDS THAT
CAN BE MADE BETWEEN COUNTIES TO
ENSURE THAT COUNTIES CAN
CONTINUE AT THE SERVICE LEVELS
THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY,
PROVIDING. AND WE ARE ALSO
MAKING SURE COUNTIES UNDERSTAND
THAT THE MECHANISM TO ENACT
THESE DELAYS WOULD BE
REALLOCATION. AND AGAIN, AS
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE POINTED
OUT, TO BASICALLY SMOOTH OUT THE
PATHWAY SO THAT THEY CAN
CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER THEIR
PROGRAMS AND PLAN THOUGHTFULLY
FOR SPENDING ACROSS THE COMING
YEARS, THIS COMMITTEE WANTS TO
JUST REITERATE THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO REJECT ANY
PROPOSALS THAT WILL CAUSE
CLIENTS TO NOT REMAIN STABLE, OR
ANY OPPORTUNITIES. WE DO NOT
WANT TO CLOSE THE DOOR ON ANY
OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING PEOPLE
OUT OF A STATE OF CRISIS, AS
WELL, THESE PROGRAMS ARE
STARTING TO MATERIALIZE TO HAVE
SOME MORE DETAIL TO THEM. AND I
APPRECIATE THE DETAIL, MOVING
FORWARD, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY
IMPORTANT, THIS COMMITTEE AND
THIS LEGISLATURE IN TERMS OF THE
ASSEMBLY, IS COMMITTED TO A JUST
PROCESS, WHICH MEANS THAT
WITHOUT A ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT
THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE, WE DO
NOT CONSIDER THAT A JUST
PROCESS, WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE MAKING THOUGHTFUL
DECISIONS, THERE IS NO DOUBT
CUTS WILL NEED TO BE MADE. SO I
DON'T WANT TO. IF YOU HAD SOME
HOPE. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU
TOO MUCH HOPE. RIGHT NOW, BUT I
DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE
CUTS THAT WILL BE MADE WILL BE
DONE KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE
DOING AND NOT, AND MAKING SURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT HURT, THAT
DON'T NEED TO BE HURT. RIGHT.
AND SO JUST WANT TO CONTINUE.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THIS
IS TO HAVE THOUGHTFUL
DISCUSSIONS, SHARE INFORMATION
OPENLY, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE,
ARE REALLY AN ANALYZER NG THINGS
AS OPPOSED TO JUST MAKING QUICK
DECISIONS, BECAUSE WHEN QUICK
DECISIONS ARE MADE, EQUITY DOES
NOT EXIST. RIGHT. AND WE WILL
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GROUNDED IN
EQUITABLE DECISION MAKING. I
WANT TO, HOLD ON. LET ME MAKE
SURE I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE. YEP.
I DID MY JOB. WE WILL HOLD THIS
ITEM OPEN AND LOOK FORWARD TO
MORE, DETAIL. AND OBVIOUSLY WITH
DISCUSSIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH
LAO WAS ADDRESSING THAT FOR SOME
COUNTIES THERE MIGHT BE SOME
UNUSED FUNDS THAT JUSTIFIES A
DELAY OR REVERSION OR WHATEVER.
AS YOU KNOW, WE JUST GOT
FINISHED DOING SOME REVISIONS
OF, UNUTILIZED FUNDS FROM
PREVIOUS YEARS FOR DIFFERENT
PROGRAMS, BUT IN OTHER COUNTIES
AND OTHER COUNTIES, THEY MAY
NOT. IT MAY ACTUALLY DO SOME
HARM. SO OUR HOPE IS THAT
THROUGH THE MAY REVISION THAT WE
START TO SEE THOSE TYPE OF,
COUNTY SPECIFIC TYPE DECISION
MAKING AS OPPOSED TO COOKIE
CUTTER APPROACHES. AGAIN SO THAT
WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
SOME JUST DECISION MAKING. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM
NUMBER. ISSUE NUMBER TEN. CLAIRE
RAMSEY DEPARTMENT IS STILL
THERE. OH YEAH. YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE SEE ME THROUGH THE END. HI.
HERE, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES. CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR
COMMUNITY CARE EXPANSION,
PROGRAM. AS YOU HEARD EARLIER,
OUR COMMUNITY CARE EXPANSION
PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2021,
AND HAS RECEIVED ONE TIME FUNDS
TOTALING $860 MILLION AVAILABLE
OVER MULTIPLE YEARS. THERE ARE
TWO COMPONENT PARTS TO CCE. THE
CAPITAL EXPANSION PROGRAM AND
THE PRESERVATION PROGRAM. SO OUR
CAPITAL EXPANSION PROGRAM
PROVIDES 570 MILLION OF THAT 860
MILLION TO ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT
AND REHABILITATE ADULT AND
SENIOR CARE FACILITIES OF A
VARIETY OF TYPES, WHICH I'LL
SPEAK TO IN A MINUTE, THAT SERVE
APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS OF
SSI, SSP, AND OUR CASH
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR
IMMIGRANTS, ALSO KNOWN AS CAP,
WHO ARE AT RISK OR EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. THE SECOND
PRESERVATION PROGRAM HAS AWARDED
$247 MILLION TO IMMEDIATELY
PRESERVE AND PREVENT THE CLOSURE
OF EXISTING LICENSED RESIDENTIAL
, ADULT, AND SENIOR CARE
FACILITIES. OUR OVERALL GOAL
WITH THIS PROGRAM IS TO EXPAND
AND PRESERVE A TOTAL OF 7000
BEDS OR UNITS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE, WE WERE ASKED ABOUT MATCH
REQUIREMENTS. CCE DOES HAVE
MATCH REQUIREMENTS. IT IS BASED
ON THE APPLICANT'S, THE TYPE OF
APPLICANT APPLICANT IN THAT
PROGRAM. SO FOR THE EXPANSION
PROGRAM, APPLICANTS WHO ARE
TRIBAL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED
TO PROVIDE A 5% MATCH. CITIES,
COUNTIES AND NONPROFITS A 10%
MATCH AND FOR PROFIT OR PRIVATE
ORGANIZATIONS MUST PROVIDE A 25%
MATCH FOR OUR PRESERVATION
PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES, ABILITY
TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO LICENSED
FACILITIES FOR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS, FOR THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PORTION OF THAT,
THOSE DOLLARS, WE REQUIRE A 10%
MATCH. THERE IS NO MATCH,
THOUGH, ON THE OPERATING SUBSIDY
PORTION OF OUR PRESERVATION
PROGRAM. WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO
SPEAK TO WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED SO
FAR, AND WE DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT WE HAD SOME UPDATED NUMBERS
TO PROVIDE YOU, FOR AWARDS
GRANTED OF THE $570 MILLION FOR
THE EXPANSION PROGRAM, WE HAVE
ALREADY AWARDED $464 MILLION TO
DATE. THAT WILL SUPPORT 55
PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE TO
EXPAND CAPACITY TO AN ADDITIONAL
2465 BEDS OR UNITS. WE HAVE AN
ADDITIONAL 106 MILLION TO AWARD
IN CCE EXPANSION FUNDS AND
EXPECT TO FINALIZE THOSE AWARDS
BY THE END OF THE MONTH. THE ONE
CAVEAT THERE IS WE ARE WORKING.
WE HAVE A TRIBAL SET ASIDE IN
OUR WORKING WITH TRIBAL
APPLICANTS, WHO SOMETIMES
REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND ADDITIONAL TIME,
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
SUPPORTED IN THEIR APPLICATIONS.
WE WERE ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE
SORT OF BENEFIT OF OUR OPERATING
SUBSIDIES, WE HAVE FOUND THESE
TO BE, A UNIQUE ASPECT TO OUR
PROGRAM, BUT A PARTICULARLY
CRUCIAL ASPECT, MANY FACILITIES
ARE ARE STRUGGLING WHEN THEY
SERVE OUR SSI. SSP RECIPIENTS
AND OUR KP RECIPIENTS TO COVER
ALL OF THEIR OPERATING COSTS.
AND SO AWARDING OPERATING
SUBSIDIES, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH
THE EXPANSION PROGRAM, WHICH
SOME OF OUR AWARDEES HAVE
RECEIVED OR THROUGH THE
PRESERVATION PROGRAM TO MAKE
SURE WE PRESERVE AVAILABLE,
CAPACITY HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL,
AND WE HAVE HEARD STORIES THAT
PEOPLE ARE FEELING THAT THIS
WILL ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE
THEIR PROGRAM MUCH LONGER AND
INTO THE FUTURE, I DID WANT TO
MENTION, BECAUSE IT WAS
REFERENCED BEFORE ABOUT THE
TYPES OF FACILITIES WE ARE
FUNDING. WE ARE FUNDING A
VARIETY OF, OF FACILITIES AND
NON FACILITY TYPES THROUGH THE
EXPANSION DOLLARS. SO WE ARE
FUNDING, ADULT RESIDENTIAL
FACILITIES, WE HAVE FUNDED
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR
THE ELDERLY OR CDFIS. WE HAVE
ALSO, SUPPORT A NUMBER OF
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
UNITS AS PART OF THE CCE
FUNDING. AND WE HAVE HAD BOTH
RECUPERATIVE CARE, RESPITE CARE
AND OTHER RECOVERY AND SOBER
LIVING. SO WE HAVE A MIX OF, OF
UNITS AND BEDS WITHIN THE
PORTFOLIO THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING
THROUGH THESE AWARDS. SO WE CAN
HOPEFULLY MEET PEOPLE WHERE
THEY'RE AT AND PROVIDE A
CONTINUUM OF AVAILABLE UNITS AND
BEDS FOR THIS POPULATION, WE'VE
ALSO BEEN ASKED ABOUT THE
PRESERVATION PROGRAMS AND ANY
UPDATES ON HOW THAT'S PREVENTING
CLOSURES. AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE
AWARDED 247 MILLION IN
PRESERVATION TO 34 PARTICIPATING
COUNTIES, WE HAVE HEARD THAT
THIS MONEY, AS I SAID, IS MUCH
NEEDED AND IS EXCITED TO GET OUT
INTO THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE
COUNTIES THAT HAVE ALREADY
GOTTEN INTO CONTRACT. 12
COUNTIES ARE IN CONTRACT WITH AT
LEAST ONE FACILITY AND MANY MORE
ARE COMING ONLINE DURING THE
SPRING AND SUMMER, WE ARE SEEING
POSITIVE TRENDS IN OUR ADULT
RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES AND IN
OUR SENIOR CARE FACILITIES. THIS
WILL BE MY LAST POINT, BETWEEN
THE LAST QUARTER OF 2021 AND THE
LAST QUARTER OF 2023, WE HAVE
SEEN AN INCREASE OF 6% IN OUR
ADULT RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES AND
A 3.7% IN THE OVERALL CAPACITY.
SINCE 2021 AND 2023. IN OUR
SENIOR CARE FACILITIES, WE'VE
SEEN IT INCREASE OF 13% IN OUR
TOTAL FACILITIES AND A 2.5% IN
OUR OVERALL CAPACITY. AND WITH
THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
. ITALY'S BETTYE'S DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD.
LAO JU TROTTER LAO WE HAVE
NOTHING ELSE TO ADD. I WANT TO
GO BACK TO ISSUE NUMBER NINE. I
APOLOGIZE, I ACTUALLY DID NOT DO
MY JOB. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT I ALERT THE
ADMINISTRATION THAT WE MAY WANT
TO PURSUE THE CHANGE REGARDING
COUNTY MATCH FOR THE BASE
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY DDS. D
SS, IF WE DO, WE WILL CIRCULATE
LANGUAGE, FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION'S CONSIDERATIONS,
OF COURSE WE WOULD VIEW THIS
LANGUAGE AS NO COST. SO IF THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION HAVE A DIFFERENT
VIEW, WE ASK THAT YOU LET US
KNOW IN WRITING AND EXPLAIN YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, NOW THAT I CLEANED
UP MY MESS, ISSUE NUMBER TEN,
SIMILAR TO THE QUESTIONS WE'VE
HAD ON DAP AND HOME SAFE, IS
THERE AN AMOUNT OF UNSPENT FUNDS
IN CCE THAT WOULD BE SAFELY
DELAYED WITH NO ADVERSE
CONSEQUENCES FOR SERVICES OR
PEOPLE IN NEED OF ADULT
RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT, SO AS YOU
KNOW, WE DO NOT HAVE A PROPOSAL
IN OUR JANUARY BUDGET TO DELAY
ANY FUNDING WITHIN CCE. I DO
WANT TO MENTION THAT WE ARE VERY
CLOSE AND IN OUR FINAL STAGES OF
APPROVING AND RELEASING THE
FINAL CCE REWARDS, WE DO DO NOT
ANTICIPATE AT THIS TIME THAT
THERE WILL BE AVAILABLE FUNDS,
AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO, BE
ABLE TO MEET OUR GOAL OF 7000
PRESERVED OR EXPANDED BEDS
BETWEEN THE COMBINATION OF OUR
EXPANSION FUNDING AND FINALIZING
THOSE AWARDS AND THE AWARDS
WE'VE ALREADY MADE TO COUNTIES
AS PART OF OUR PRESERVATION
DOLLARS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE CLEAR THAT AS CLOSE AS WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH
DECISIONS, IF THEY ARE, IF
THEY'RE, AT ANY TIME, WE BELIEVE
THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE ANY
UNSPENT FUNDS IN THIS
PARTICULAR, PROGRAM. WE IT IS,
IT IS OUR INTENTION TO MAKE THAT
AS A PART OF BUDGET SOLUTIONS,
AS WE AWAIT FOR THE GOVERNOR'S
MAY REVISE, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER
11, YOU ARE STILL HERE? I SURE
AM, CLAIRE RAMSEY, DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR, I'VE BEEN ASKED TO
PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
PROGRAM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
FOR DATA WAREHOUSE BCP,
CALIFORNIA WAS ALLOCATED
APPROXIMATELY $1.4 MILLION BY
THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION FOR
COMMUNITY LIVING IN THE ELDER
JUSTICE ACT TO SUPPORT THE
STATE'S APS PROGRAM, TO THAT
END, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE
AUTHORITY TO USE THOSE FEDERAL
DOLLARS TO FUND TWO POSITIONS TO
SUPPORT AND BUILD OUR DATA
WAREHOUSE, WHICH WILL BE HOUSED
AT CCE AND WILL HELP TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE RECEIVING AND
COLLECTING ALL THE DATA
NECESSARY TO MEET OUR FEDERAL
REQUIREMENTS TO HAVE CASE LEVEL
DATA. CURRENTLY WE CAN, COLLECT
WE COLLECT AGGREGATED DATA, BUT
NOT CASE LEVEL DATA. WE DO HAVE,
AN EXEMPTION AT THIS MOMENT FROM
COLLECTING CASE LEVEL DATA, BUT
WE ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO
CONTINUE, WHEN WE WERE ASKED
ABOUT HOW IT WILL IMPROVE OUR
UNDERSTANDING, IT'S ANTICIPATED
THAT OUR DATA WAREHOUSE SYSTEM
WILL BE COMPLETED IN JANUARY OF
2026, AND WE PLAN TO WORK WITH
THE COUNTIES IN ORDER TO DEVELOP
THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND TO DEFINE
THOSE BUSINESS PROCESSES, HAVING
CASE LEVEL DATA AND TIMELY DATA
WILL HELP INFORM OUR IMPACT AND
OUTREACH, OUR APS WORKER
TRAINING, AND WILL MAKE SURE
THAT APS IS A IS RESPONSIVE TO
ABUSE ALLEGATIONS IN A TIMELY,
EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE MANNER
FOR CLIENTS, WE WANTED TO
PROVIDE A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE IN
RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, ONE
EXAMPLE WOULD BE WE WILL BE ABLE
TO BETTER TRACK RECIDIVISM IN
OUR PROGRAM. RECIDIVISM MEANS A
CLIENT WHO HAS BEEN REFERRED TO
APS MORE THAN ONCE IN 12 MONTHS
ON A NEW CASE. AND SO RIGHT NOW,
ALTHOUGH WE DO TRACK THAT
AGGREGATE DATA, WE ACTUALLY
DON'T KNOW WHAT A CASE LEVEL WHO
IS BEING IMPACTED BY RECIDIVISM
WITHIN THIS PROGRAM AND WHETHER
OR NOT WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB
IDENTIFYING COMMUNITIES,
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS WHERE
RECIDIVISM IS HAPPENING, PEOPLE
WHO ARE MORE AT RISK OF BEING
ABUSED REPEATEDLY AND HAVING
REPEATED APS REFERRALS. AND WITH
THIS DATA WAREHOUSE, WE WILL BE
ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT AT A CASE
LEVEL AND BASICALLY SEE WHETHER
WE CAN TARGET OUR APPROACH AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE EQUITABLY
PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OUR OLDER
ADULTS WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING
ABUSE AND NEGLECT, HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS
PROPOSAL. THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE ELISE BETTIS DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE NOTHING FURTHER TO
ADD. AT THIS MOMENT. LIU XUAN
LAO WE HAVE NOTHING MORE TO ADD
AT THIS TIME, IS THE
ADMINISTRATION AMENABLE TO THE
BUDGET BILL LANGUAGE TO ASSIST
WITH TRACKING AND OVERSIGHT FOR
THE DATA WAREHOUSE AND
INFORMATION THÀNH ABOUT ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES, WE'RE HAPPY
TO TAKE THAT REQUEST BACK AND
WORK WITH YOU TO LOOK AT
LANGUAGE ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE
POSSIBLE, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I
WOULD LIKE TO ASK LAO FOR HELP
WITH A DRAFTING BUDGET BILL.
LANGUAGE TO FIRST PREVIEW WITH
MY OFFICE AND SUBCOMMITTEE
STAFF, AND THEN WE WOULD ASK FOR
YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH CIRCULATING
THAT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO
PREPARE US FOR ACTION AT THE MAY
REVISE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE
WILL HOLD THIS ISSUE OPEN AND
MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AND FINAL
ISSUE FOR ISSUE NUMBER 12. WHO'S
UP NEXT? OH, GUESS WHAT. HELLO
AGAIN, CLAIRE RAMSEY FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
HAPPY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY CARE
LICENSING DIVISION AND
RECOGNIZING THERE ARE NOT ANY
PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE FOR YOU
TO CONSIDER, BUT DO WANT TO
PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION SO YOU
HAVE SOME INSIGHT INTO A VERY
LARGE DIVISION THAT IS MISSION
IS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH, SAFETY
AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF EACH
PERSON IN COMMUNITY CARE THROUGH
THE ADMINISTRATION OF AN
EFFECTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE
REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM.
CCL IS COMPRISED OF FOUR
LICENSING PROGRAMS AND THREE
SUPPORT BRANCHES, AND WE ARE,
THOSE THREE, EXCUSE ME, THOSE
FOUR PROGRAMS ARE ADULT AND
SENIOR CARE PROGRAM. OUR CHILD
CARE PROGRAM, OUR CHILDREN'S
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, AND OUR
HOME CARE SERVICES PROGRAM, WE
HAVE 34 DIFFERENT FACILITY TYPES
. WE LICENSE 69,646 FACILITIES
AND. SERVE 1,448,000
CALIFORNIANS THROUGH OUR, OUR
FACILITIES. WE ALSO HAVE, A HOME
CARE SERVICES BUREAU THAT HAS
REGISTERED MORE THAN 1900 HOME,
HOME CARE ORGANIZATIONS. THE
DIVISION HAS 1571 AUTHORIZED
POSITIONS. I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE BUDGET, WE HAVE, IN
23, 24, WE HAVE $78.4 MILLION IN
GENERAL FUNDS, $157.8 MILLION IN
FEDERAL FUNDS, $23.8 MILLION IN
OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FUND,
2.1 MILLION IN OUR CERTIFICATION
FUND, 2.7 MILLION IN OUR CHILD
HEALTH AND SAFETY FUND, 7.3
MILLION IN OUR HOME CARE FUND,
AND 2.8 MILLION FOR OUR
CONTINUING CARE PROVIDER FUND,
WHICH IS CONTINUOUSLY
APPROPRIATED. WE USE ALL THOSE
DOLLARS ON OUR 1571 AUTHORIZED
STAFF WHO SERVE IN 18 DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE,
CONDUCTING MORE THAN 34,000
FACILITY INSPECTIONS A YEAR,
15,000 CASE MANAGEMENT VISITS
AND DISPOSAL AND INVESTIGATION
OF MORE THAN 17,000 COMPLAINTS
PER YEAR. WE ALSO PROCESS
APPROXIMATELY 7000 APPLICATIONS
FOR LICENSURE A YEAR. WE ARE
WORKING ON TWO LARGE IT SYSTEMS
PROJECTS, AND WE PROCESS MORE
THAN 250,000 CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
CHECKS, A YEAR TO ENSURE SAFETY
IN OUR FACILITIES. WE I WAS ALSO
ASKED TO SPEAK ON TWO OF OUR
PROGRAMS, FIRST, ABOUT OUR
GUARDIAN BACKGROUND CHECK AND
THE $4 MILLION THAT WAS
ALLOCATED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE RECEIVING ON
AVERAGE 20,000 APPLICATIONS PER
MONTH FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND
WE ARE ABLE TO PROCESS
APPROXIMATELY 22,000
APPLICATIONS PER MONTH. WE
CURRENTLY HAVE 200, EXCUSE ME,
2277 CASES BACKLOGGED PAST 120
DAYS. THIS REPRESENTS ALREADY A
24% DECREASE FROM OUR JANUARY
2024 NUMBERS, WHERE WE HAD A
LITTLE OVER 3000 CASES OLDER
THAN 127 120 DAYS, JUST TO SHOW
YOU THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING
ON REDUCING OUR BACKLOG, WE
THINK THIS IS DUE IN LARGE PART
TO THE $4 MILLION WHERE WE WERE
ABLE TO HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO
SUPPORT BOTH THE BACKLOG
PROCESSING AND TO INCREASE OUR
CAPACITY TO ANSWER PHONES AND
EMAILS FROM APPLICANTS AND
LICENSEES. WE ALSO THINK IS
CONTRIBUTED BY A BILL THAT WAS
PASSED. THANK YOU TO THE
LEGISLATURE, AB 1720, WHICH
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE
NUMBER OF SIMPLIFIED EXEMPTIONS.
WE COULD DO, WHICH ARE HAPPENING
MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN OUR
NORMAL STANDARD EXEMPTIONS. WE
WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR SECOND
QUARTERLY UPDATE ON OUR BACKLOG
NUMBERS LAST WEEK, AND
ANTICIPATE PROVIDING THE NEXT
QUARTER NUMBERS LATER THIS
SPRING, JUST WANT TO ALSO SPEAK
TO OUR GUARDIAN PROJECT AND OUR
NEW SYSTEM, WE HAVE COMPLETED
ALL CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN
GUARDIAN JULY 2023. SO OUR
GUARDIAN SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY
STABLE AND WE ARE GETTING BETTER
FUNCTIONALITY AT IT AND PEOPLE
ARE LEARNING TO USE IT AND WORK
WITH IT BETTER, WE ALSO HAVE A
BUSINESS. EXCUSE ME. WE'RE IN
THE PROCESS. STAGE TWO FOR A
REPLACEMENT SYSTEM. AND WE ARE
INFORMATION GATHERING AND ALMOST
COMPLETE WITH THAT PIECE OF
THAT. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO
BE DRAFTING HIGH LEVEL BUSINESS
REQUIREMENTS IN PREPARATION FOR
OUR RFP. LASTLY, I WAS ASKED TO
SPEAK TO THE HOME CARE FUND AND
ACTIONS WE'VE TAKEN, THE 2023
BUDGET PROVIDED THE HOME CARE
SERVICES, BUREAU WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSITION TO A
BRANCH. WE HAVE COMPLETED THAT
TRANSITION IN JULY OF 2023. WE
WERE GIVEN, FUNDING TO HIRE FOR
15 NEW POSITIONS. WE HAVE HIRED
12 AND ARE IN THE HIRING PROCESS
FOR THE REMAINING THREE, AND
ANTICIPATE WE WILL BE COMPLETED
HIRING WITHIN THE COMING MONTHS,
THE POINT OF THE ADDITIONAL,
POSITIONS WAS SO THAT WE COULD
INVESTIGATE UNLICENSED HOME CARE
AND ISSUE CIVIL PENALTIES, AND
ALSO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO
LICENSURE AND INTO COMPLIANCE,
WHICH WILL ALSO GENERATE MORE
REVENUE FOR OUR HOME CARE FUND.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO MEET WITH
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND
STAKEHOLDERS TO BUILD OUR
WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPING. WE
ARE DEVELOPING OUR REGULATIONS
AND INTERNAL POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES TO SUPPORT THE NEW
BRANCH AND WE ANTICIPATE HAVING
OUR QUARTERLY REPORT TO YOU. WE
HAD ALREADY SUBMITTED OUR FIRST
QUARTERLY REPORT AND OUR SECOND
ONE, IS COMING DUE THIS SPRING.
AND WE ANTICIPATE HAVING IT TO
YOU IN THE COMING WEEKS, I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. IDALIS
PEREZ, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD AT THIS
MOMENT, ELIO. JOHN. SCHROEDER.
ELIO. WE HAVE NOTHING MORE TO
ADD AT THIS TIME, ON THE
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION
TIMELINES, CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE
HOW THESE HAVE IMPROVED OR NOT
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS? YES. SO I
DO WANT TO PREFACE COMPLAINT
INVESTIGATION TIMELINES BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE PANDEMIC
HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR
ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE AND CLOSE
COMPLAINTS. SO WE DO HAVE A
REQUIREMENT THAT WE MUST GO OUT
TO AN IN-PERSON VISIT WITHIN TEN
DAYS. WE MEET THAT OBLIGATION
99% OF THE TIME. WE ARE GOING
OUT AND STARTING INSPECTIONS AND
MAKING SURE NO ONE IS IN DANGER.
THE INSPECTION TIMELINE, THOUGH,
IS RELATED TO FULL CLOSURE OF A
COMPLAINT. WE ARE WORKING
DILIGENTLY TO BRING THOSE
NUMBERS DOWN, BUT WE HAVE SEEN,
THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE A
LITTLE BIT OF A SLOW PROCESS. WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE, COMPLAINTS, A
LITTLE OVER 5000 COMPLAINTS THAT
ARE BACKLOGGED MORE THAN 90
DAYS, AND HAVE BEEN PENDING, THE
BULK OF THOSE ARE IN OUR ADULT
AND SENIOR CARE PROGRAM, WHICH
WAS THE MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED BY
COVID AND IS THAT BACKLOG IS
DIRECTLY TIED TO COVID, WE ARE
WORKING DILIGENTLY TO REDUCE IT
AND HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN
REDUCING IT. IT IS JUST A SLOW
MOVEMENT FORWARD, BUT WE ARE
TAKING THAT RESPONSIBILITY
SERIOUSLY AND, WE'LL CONTINUE TO
WORK DOWN THAT NUMBER. WHAT DOES
IT TAKE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
TO MAKE QUICKER PROGRESS? THIS
WE WORK WITHIN THE RESOURCES WE
HAVE, AND THAT MEANS TO MEET OUR
THREE MAJOR OBLIGATIONS, WHICH
ARE PROCESSING APPLICATIONS,
DOING INSPECTIONS OF FACILITIES
AND THEN PROCESSING COMPLAINTS,
WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE THOSE
THREE THINGS OUT SO THAT WE ARE
EFFECTIVELY DOING AND MEETING
ALL OUR OBLIGATIONS IN ALL
THREE, WHEN WE NEED TO WORK DOWN
MORE COMPLAINTS, WE BALANCE THAT
OUT WITH OUR ABILITY TO DO
APPLICATIONS TIMELY AND TO
COMPLETE INSPECTIONS AS
REQUIRED. SO I WOULD SAY THAT
THAT IS HOW WE DO IT. WE WORK
WITHIN OUR, OUR MEANS AND
BALANCE. THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES
GOT IT. THIS WAS A HELPFUL
BACKGROUND FOR COMMUNITY CARE
LICENSING. WE WILL HOLD THIS
ISSUE OPEN. WANT TO THANK YOU SO
MUCH. I THINK I GUESS YOU'RE
LEAVING NOW. I'LL BE I'LL BE IN
THE BACK LISTENING TO PUBLIC
COMMENT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT,
THIS ENDS THE PANEL PRESENTATION
PORTION OF OUR HEARING FOR
TODAY, WE WITH THAT, WE WILL
MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT
.
AS A REMINDER, WE WELCOME PUBLIC
COMMENT ON ANY ISSUE ON THE
AGENDA. AND I WANT TO REMIND
EVERYONE THAT WE ARE DOING TWO
MINUTES RIGHT DOWN HEARING.
HEARING HAS NOT CONCLUDED.
HEARING IS NOT CONCLUDED. IF
YOU, IF YOU GOT REUNITED WITH
YOUR BEST FRIEND, TAKE IT TO
THE, HALLWAY, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN TWO
MINUTES, TWO MINUTES. AND,
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND
AFFILIATION. HELLO, MR. CHAIR,
MY NAME IS GÂY LOPEZ LOOMIS. I'M
AN IHSS PROVIDER FOR NEVADA
COUNTY CARING FOR MY AUTISTIC
SON, LESTAT. AND WE APPRECIATE
YOUR COMMENTS AND RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST THE COMMITTEE SUPPORT
THOUGHT TO CARRY OUT THE HOME
CARE CONTRACTS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY LIMITED BY THE 10%
CAP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION.
PLEASE GOOD MORNING. I'M NAOMI
RODRIGUEZ. OH, SORRY. I'M. GOOD
MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MY NAME
IS NAOMI RODRIGUEZ AND IHSS
PROVIDER FOR BUTTE COUNTY CARING
FOR MY MOTHER IN LAW, ELISA
RODRIGUEZ. WE APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS AND RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO
CARRY OUT OUR HOME CARE CONTRACT
THAT ARE CURRENTLY LIMITED BY
THE 10% CAP. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AND
AFFILIATION. PLEASE GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS FARNOOSH
MAKHMALBAF. BLAKESPEAR COUNTY
CARING FOR MY CLIENT. WE
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE
COMMITTEE'S SUPPORT TO CARRY OUT
THE HOME CARE CONTRACTS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY LIMITED BY THE 10%
CAP. THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NAME AND AFFILIATION
PLEASE. HI. YES, MY NAME IS
SHANTELLE TURNER. I AM A IN HOME
CARE PROVIDER FOR STANISLAUS
COUNTY. I TAKE CARE OF WILLIE
GRAYS. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO
LOOK INTO UP UPGRADING THE WAGES
OF OUR PAID SO THAT WE CAN TAKE
CARE OF OUR FAMILIES MORE
BETTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NAME? AFFILIATION, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. MY NAME IS
BRANDY LITT AND I WORK FOR
IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE HEALTH
THROUGH STANISLAUS COUNTY. I AM
ON THE GENERAL PROVIDER LIST,
MEANING I DON'T CARE FOR ONE
INDIVIDUAL PERSON I AM SENT TO
WHERE THE NEED IS THE GREATEST.
I AM ASKING TODAY TO SUPPORT THE
INCREASE OF WAGE, FAST FOOD
WORKERS MAKE MORE THAN IN-HOME
SUPPORTIVE HEALTH. AND TO ME
THAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE. SO I'D
LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE WHERE THERE
IS ROOM IN THE BUDGET TO
INCREASE OUR WAGES SO WE CAN
PROVIDE BETTER. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. NAME AFFILIATION.
PLEASE PETER HANSEL, ADVOCACY,
VOLUNTEER FOR AARP CALIFORNIA
HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF AARP
CALIFORNIA AND ITS 3.2 MILLION
MEMBERS, WE HAVE THREE POINTS
WE'D LIKE TO MAKE FOR THE
COMMITTEE. THE FIRST IS A PLEA,
REALLY, TO AVOID BUDGET CUTS
THAT AFFECT OLDER, VULNERABLE
CALIFORNIANS. I THINK WE'VE
HEARD THAT REFRAIN. SO BUT WE
REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
AARP APPRECIATES THE PROGRESS
THAT'S BEEN MADE. IMPLEMENTING
THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING. WE
WOULD HATE TO SEE THAT STALL OR
GO BACKWARDS. EVEN WORSE, DUE TO
UNTARGETED OR POORLY TARGETED
BUDGET CUTS, AARP POLLED ITS
MEMBERS. 87% PREFER TO CONTINUE
TO RECEIVE SERVICES AND REMAIN
LIVING IN THEIR HOMES AS THEY
AGE. MANY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO
NAVIGATE THE CAREGIVING SYSTEM
AND DEPEND ON CAREGIVERS, MANY
OF WHOM ARE SUPPORTED BY THE
PROGRAMS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY. FOR
THAT REASON, WE MAKE A STRONG
PLEA TO AVOID ANY BUDGET CUTS
AFFECTING SENIORS. THEN WE WANT
TO GO ON RECORD AS SUPPORTING
THE STAKEHOLDER REQUEST FOR THE
OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM, THE OMBUDSMAN
PROGRAM PROVIDES CRITICAL
SERVICES. YOU'VE HEARD A LOT
ALSO HOW UNDERFUNDED IT IS AND
HOW MUCH IT'S DRAINING
VOLUNTEERS IS THE CURRENT LEVEL.
IT CANNOT PERFORM ITS DUTIES.
AND THIS IS A CRITICAL FUNCTION.
SO WE WOULD STRONGLY URGE THE
COMMITTEE TO AVOID, TO PARDON
ME, TO SUPPORT THE AUGMENTATION
IN THAT AREA. I'D LIKE TO DEFER
TO MY COLLEAGUE ON OUR THIRD
POINT. ANITA STROMGREN, ON
BEHALF OF AARP CALIFORNIA, WE
ALSO SUPPORT THE IHSS, GENERAL
FUND BRIDGE FUNDING PROPOSAL BY
QUDAH AND THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, TO
ADDRESS THE STAFFING CHALLENGES
OF THE IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES PROGRAM. CURRENT
STAFFING SHORTAGES DELAY TIMELY
ACCESS TO THE IHS S SERVICES FOR
OLDER ADULTS AND PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES, PUTTING THEM AT
RISK OF INSTITUTIONALIZED ATION.
WE SUPPORT IHSS BECAUSE THIS
ESSENTIAL PROGRAM MAKES IT
POSSIBLE FOR 754,000
CALIFORNIANS TO CONTINUE TO LIVE
IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
AS THEY AGE, AND IT ALSO ALLOWS
FAMILY CAREGIVERS TO RECEIVE
PAYMENT FOR CARING FOR THEIR
LOVED ONES. 72% OF IHSS PROVIDER
HOURS ARE IN FACT FAMILY
MEMBERS, AND IT OFFERS THEM THE
CHOICE OF GETTING PAID FOR THEIR
WORK, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN WORK AND CARING
FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. IHSS IS
ALSO A KEY STRATEGY AND THE
MASTER PLAN FOR AGING, AND WE
URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS
PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. HI, MY NAME IS NANCY
VOLPERT. I'M WITH HOMEBRIDGE AND
I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT
IN FULL SUPPORT OF SEIU'S
PROPOSAL AROUND FINDING A WAY TO
BUILD ON THE INVESTMENT. THAT'S
BEEN MADE IN CAREER PATHWAYS
PROGRAM. WE ARE, AS NOTED BY
BOTH DIRECTOR JOHNSON AND
DIRECTOR DAMARIS AND THEIR
TEAMS. CPP IS A FIRST IN THE
COUNTRY MODEL. IT HAS HIGH
DEMAND, IT IS REPLICABLE IN
OTHER STATES AND IT IS PROVIDING
CRITICAL EDUCATION AND SUPPORT
TO IHSS WORKERS WHO ARE ON THE
FRONT LINE OF KEEPING OUR OLDEST
CALIFORNIANS SUPPORTED AND SAFE
AT HOME AND LIVING IN THE
COMMUNITY SETTINGS IN WHICH THEY
THRIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO PULL US TOGETHER
TO TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT
WILL PROTECT THIS PROGRAM AND
THE EDUCATION THAT WE PROVIDE TO
IHS PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. HI, CHAIR
GABBY DAVIDSON WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD
BANKS AND A MEMBER OF THE
CALIFORNIANS FOR SSI COALITION.
FIRSTLY WE JUST WANT TO THANK
THE LEGISLATOR FOR THE SSP GRANT
INCREASE THAT TOOK PLACE IN
JANUARY AND THAT THERE'S NO
PROPOSED CUTS THIS YEAR.
ADDITIONALLY, AS MENTIONED IN
ISSUE ONE AND SIX, WE MUST GO
FURTHER TO SUPPORT THE OVER 1
MILLION CALIFORNIANS WHO RELY ON
SSI, MANY OF WHO ARE STRUGGLING
WITH HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY
. BY RAISING THE SSP GRANT
LEVELS AND REVIVING THE SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCE PROGRAM WHEN
OPPORTUNITIES ALLOW. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NAME AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. YASMIN
PELLETT, ON BEHALF OF JUSTICE
AND AGING, WE SUPPORT THE
CALIFORNIANS FOR SSI COALITION
ASKS TO INCREASE THE SSP GRANTS
AND PROVIDE AN ONGOING COLA AND
TO REVIVE THE SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES PROGRAM. WE ALSO
SUPPORT THE CALIFORNIA LONG TIME
CARE OMBUDSMAN ASSOCIATION'S
PROPOSAL. WE OPPOSE ANY DELAYS
TO THE HOME SAFE AND SNAP
PROGRAMS THAT LIMIT OR CUT OFF
ACCESS TO THESE SERVICES, AND WE
OUTLINE OUR COMMENTS WITH THE
CHAIR ABOUT MITIGATING HARM. AND
FINALLY, WE SUPPORT THIS
PROPOSAL ON THE IHSS CAREER
PATHWAYS PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. LINDA HèA WITH
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND
POVERTY RELATED TO ITEM SEVEN.
WE APPRECIATE THE LARGE
UNWINDING LIFT AND DRAMATIC DROP
IN IHSS TERMINATIONS COMPARED TO
PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS TO THE
CHAIR'S QUESTION OF WHAT THE
STATE CAN DO TO MAINTAIN
COVERAGE, WE RECOMMEND THE
STATE, SPECIFICALLY THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES, MAKE PERMANENT, ALL
ALLOWABLE FEDERAL FLEXIBILITIES,
WHICH IS SET TO EXPIRE AT THE
END OF THIS YEAR. THIS COULD
RESULT IN COST SAVINGS AS MORE
IHSS CONSUMERS WILL KEEP THEIR
MEDI-CAL AND NOT MOVE INTO STATE
ONLY IHSS RESIDUAL PROGRAM.
WE'VE SEEN A DRAMATIC
IMPROVEMENT IN THE AUTOMATIC
EX-PARTE RENEWALS FOR PEOPLE 65
AND OLDER, AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES FROM LESS THAN 1,
TO OVER 60% BEGINNING LAST
DECEMBER, WHEN THE FLEXIBILITIES
WERE IMPLEMENTED THERE. THIS IS
A MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT THAT WE
BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE
DRAMATIC DROP IN MEDI-CAL
ENROLLMENT RELATED TO ISSUE
EIGHT. WE SUPPORT SEIU S IHSS
CAREER PATHWAY REQUEST AND SHARE
THE CONCERNS RELATED TO THE
DELAY OF HDHP AND HOME SAFE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NAME
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. MALIK
BYNUM, ON BEHALF OF UAW, ACP
LOCAL 3930 OVER ON BEHALF OF
OVER 171,000 HOME CARE AND CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE.
FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO ECHO
THE REMARKS ABOUT MY SEIU
COUNTERPART, TIFFANY WHITTON, AS
IT RELATES TO THE CAREER
PATHWAYS PROGRAM. WE WOULD HATE
TO SEE SUCH A CRITICAL PROGRAM
CUT SHORT PREMATURELY, AND WE
WOULD URGE EVERYBODY IN THIS
ROOM, AS WELL AS THE PERTINENT
DEPARTMENTS, TO LOOK AT HOW WE
CAN RESHAPE SOME OF THAT FUNDING
TO REALLY UTILIZE THAT IN THE
CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM. AND OF
COURSE, JUST LIKE OUR MEMBERS
THAT YOU SAW BEFORE YOU, WE
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND
CHAMPIONSHIP OF OUR BUDGET
PROPOSAL AND TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW
WE CAN ENSURE THAT THOSE
COUNTIES THAT ARE AT THE 10%
CAP, SAN DIEGO AND RIVERSIDE CAN
FULFILL THOSE CONTRACTS INTO
2025. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NAME AFFILIATION, PLEASE.
TIFFANY WISEMAN WITH SEIU
CALIFORNIA SUPPORT AND ECHO THE
COMMENTS MADE BY MY COUNTERPARTS
AT UW FOR THE 10% CAP. ALSO
SUPPORT THE LONG TUM CARE
OMBUDSMAN PROPOSAL. AND FINALLY,
SUPPORT FOR THE IHSS ADMIN
PROPOSAL BROUGHT BY CDA AND
CSAC, AND JUST UNDERSCORED THE
IMPORTANCE FOR UPDATING THE
METHODOLOGY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AND
AFFILIATION PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON DOCTOR JACKSON. BLANCA
CASTRO, STATE LONGTUM CARE
OMBUDSMAN. WHILE I RESIDE IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGING, WE ARE AN
INDEPENDENT ENTITY, AND SO I'M
HERE STRONGLY SUPPORTING THE
REQUEST FROM THE CALIFORNIA LONG
TERME CARE OMBUDSMAN ASSOCIATION
TO INCREASE FUNDING ON ALREADY
EXISTING SPECIAL FUNDS. I JUST
HAVE TWO POINTS TO MAKE. WE HAVE
615 PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA THAT
ARE CERTIFIED, AND WE HANDLED
OVER 43,000 COMPLAINTS CGRTS BY
PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN LONG TUM
CARE FACILITIES. JUST IN 2023.
THAT CONTINUES TO GROW AND THE
TOP THREE COMPLAINTS PHYSICAL
ABUSE IS IN IN UNATTENDED CARE
AND TRANSFER, DISCHARGE AND
EVICTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU FOR THE SCHEDULE. SOME TIME
TO CHAT. YES. PLEASE REACH OUT
TO MY OFFICE. I AM I HAD EVERY
INTENTION OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON,
DOCTOR JACKSON. MY NAME IS JASON
SULLIVAN HALPERN, AND I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF LONG TUM CARE
OMBUDSMAN ASSOCIATION. AND I
JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT
BLANCA SAID. WE HAVE 5850 AGING
AND DISABILITY ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THIS
REQUEST. WE'VE INTRODUCED IT
CONCURRENTLY IN THE SENATE AS
WELL, PRESENTED IT TO SENATE
BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES ON MARCH 7TH.
AND AS BLANCA SAID, THESE ARE
REQUESTS FOR EXISTING RESERVES
FROM TWO SPECIAL FUNDS THAT
ALREADY FUND OUR PROGRAMS. AS
ONE OF THE SPECIAL FUNDS IS
LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVELY CAPPED
AT 10 MILLION. BUT IT'S BEEN
REGULARLY ENDING EACH YEAR WITH
ABOUT 14 MILLION. AND THAT
ACCOUNT AND THE OTHER, WHICH
PROVIDES OUR PROGRAMS WITH
$400,000 ANNUALLY, IS BEGINNING
THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR WITH $130
MILLION IN RESERVES. SO WE FEEL
CONFIDENT THAT THERE IS SOME
FUNDING THERE THAT COULD SUPPORT
THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAMS. WE'RE
GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE AND
CDF ON THE ON THE LOGISTICS. AND
WE DO PLAN ON INTRODUCING A
BUDGET TRAILER BILL FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION IN THE NEAR
FUTURE, AND I WOULD JUST
ENCOURAGE THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO
KEEP TALKING TO US ABOUT THIS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND
IT'S A DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR. WE
WANT TO DO OUR BEST TO FIND A
SOURCE OF FUNDING THAT'S NOT
GOING TO IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND
THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO LET
THESE PROGRAMS MEET THEIR BASIC
MANDATES, WHICH ARE TO MAKE
QUARTERLY, UNANNOUNCED VISITS TO
LONG TUM CARE FACILITIES. AS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR BECKLEY SAID,
WE'RE NOT VISITING 100% OF THOSE
FACILITIES QUARTERLY. AND IN
TERMS OF THE VOLUNTEERS, WE HAVE
LOST 50% OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND
THE STATE DOES HAVE SOME MONEY
TO RECRUIT MORE. BUT NONE OF
THAT FUNDING IS GOING TO GO
TOWARDS TRAINING THE VOLUNTEERS.
AND THESE VOLUNTEERS HAVE TO
COMPLETE 36 HOURS OF TRAINING TO
EVEN BEGIN VOLUNTEERING FOR THE
PROGRAM. SO WE'D LIKE TO WORK
THROUGH SOME OF THESE DETAILS
WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND
ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER OUR
REQUEST AROUND THE TIME OF THE
MAY REVISION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AFFILIATION.
PLEASE HI, MY NAME IS RACHEL
TATE. I'M WITH WISEMAN HEALTHY
AGING LONG TUM CARE OMBUDSMAN
PROGRAM. WE HAVE THE PROGRAMS
FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF LOS
ANGELES, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY
OF SAN BERNARDINO. SO WE ARE
MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF THE STATE
IN LOS ANGELES CITY AND COUNTY
ALONE. WE HAVE MORE THAN 1900
SKILLED NURSING AND ASSISTED
LIVING FACILITIES. WE CURRENTLY
HAVE, 3000 OPEN CASES TO WORK ON
. 516 OF THOSE CAME IN SINCE THE
FIRST DAY OF THIS MONTH. WE ARE
RAPIDLY DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF
RESIDENTS IN LONG TÌM CARE
FACILITIES, BUT THE FUNDING HAS
NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE COST OF
RUNNING THIS PROGRAM IN THE LAST
YEAR, WE HAVE ELIMINATED ONE
REGIONAL OFFICE AND FOUR
POSITIONS IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT TO
BREAK EVEN. THIS YEAR. THAT
CAUSES AN EQUITABILITY ISSUE FOR
RESIDENTS IN OUR COUNTY NOT
BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE THE
SERVICES THAT THEY SO
DESPERATELY NEED AND DESERVE.
WHILE I HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE,
I HAVE HAD A CONSTITUENT REQUEST
FROM A MEMBER RELATED TO A 97
YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN
GIVEN A RENT INCREASE THAT
PRICES HER OUT OF HER ASSISTED
LIVING FACILITY AND MY ADVOCATES
NEED TO GET OUT THERE TO STAVE
OFF HOMELESSNESS. FOR A 97 YEAR
OLD WOMAN, WE DESPERATELY NEED
THIS FUNDING IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
SERVICES FOR CALIFORNIA'S MOST
MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. THANK
YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION.
PLEASE HI KAREN JONES, LONG TUM
CARE OMBUDSMAN SERVICES OF SAN
LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. I'M ALSO A
BOARD MEMBER FOR CAL KOA, THE
STATE OMBUDSMAN ASSOCIATION, AND
I HAVE SO MUCH I'D LIKE TO SAY,
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE ALL THE
PEOPLE BEHIND ME WOULD THROW ME
OUT IF I KEPT GOING FOR HOURS.
SO, WHAT I WILL SAY IS AT YOUR
OWN RISK. YEAH. I'M NOT DOING
IT, I WON'T, I PROMISE, WHAT I
WOULD SAY IS YOU'VE HEARD FROM
RACHEL ABOUT THE NEED IN SO MANY
OF THE COUNTIES, AND THERE IS AN
ACCOUNTABILITY PROBLEM FOR A LOT
OF FACILITY RESIDENTS IN SOME
COUNTIES. THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO
FIND OTHER RESERVES, OTHER
RESOURCES, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO
GET TO THOSE COMPLAINTS AND
FACILITY VISITS MORE REGULARLY.
AND IN SOME COUNTIES THEY
CANNOT. AND IT IS TERRIBLE,
UNFAIR TO ANYONE LIVING IN A
LONG TUM CARE FACILITY TO LACK
THE RESOURCES OF THE OMBUDSMAN
PROGRAM, THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE
ASKING FOR FROM THIS PROPOSAL DO
NOT AFFECT THE GENERAL FUND.
THEY DON'T AFFECT THE DEFICIT
AND THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE TO
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. THIS TRULY
IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, EVEN IN
A DESPERATELY TERRIBLE FINANCIAL
YEAR, TO BUILD UP A PROGRAM
THAT'S REALLY UNDERFUNDED AND
NEEDS THE FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN
SERVE THE FOLKS THAT WE WANT TO
SERVE OR THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO
SERVE, THIS IS NOT MONEY FOR THE
OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM. THIS IS MONEY
FOR LONG TUM CARE FACILITY
RESIDENTS, AND IT'S A BENEFIT TO
THEM. SO WE WOULD REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE ON THAT.
AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NAME
AFFILIATION PLEASE. MELISSA
FLAHERTY, STANISLAUS OMBUDSMAN
PROGRAM I AM THE, OMBUDSMAN
COORDINATOR FOR STANISLAUS
COUNTY OVERSIGHT OF 17 SKILLED
NURSING FACILITIES AND 98
ASSISTED LIVING LONG TUM CARE
FACILITIES TOTALING OVER 4000
BEDS, WITH NUMEROUS ADULT
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES AND
ADULT DAY PROGRAMS. WE ALL KNOW
THAT THE SENIOR POPULATION IS
GROWING AND BY NOT CONSIDERING
THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASE FOR
LONG TERME CARE PROGRAMS WILL
GREATLY BECOME A SHORTFALL. IN
REGARDS TO THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF
THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM IN
CALIFORNIA AND THE RESIDENTS
THAT DEPEND ON OUR SERVICES.
OMBUDSMAN REPRESENTATIVES, STAFF
AND VOLUNTEERS BECOME RESIDENTS
EYES AND EARS WHILE HAVING FACE
TO FACE COMMUNITY. ESTABLISHING
RELATIONSHIPS WHERE OMBUDSMAN
BECOME TRUSTED PERSONS WHO
RESIDENTS CAN DEPEND ON ASKING
YOU TO RESPECTFULLY CONSIDER THE
PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASE FOR THE
LONG TUM CARE OMBUDSMAN WILL
HELP THE ELDERS AND DEPENDENT
ADULTS WITH A VARIETY OF
BACKGROUNDS AND CREEDS TO KNOW
THAT WE ALL CAN HELP THEM.
LIVING A HEALTHY AND FULFILLING
LIFE AS DESERVED. SO LET'S START
THE PROCESS NOW BY MOVING
FORWARD, LETTING YOUR
CONSTITUENTS KNOW LIVING IN LONG
TUM CARE AND LONG TUM CARE
OMBUDSMAN, COMMUNITIES ARE
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY
AND NOT FORGOTTEN. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AND
AFFILIATION PLEASE. HELLO, MY
NAME IS JACQUELINE FLORES, AND
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA
ADVOCATES FOR NURSING HOME
REFORM, ALSO KNOWN AS CANR, IN
SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET REQUEST
FOR CALIFORNIA'S LONG TUM CARE
OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM. FOR OVER 40
YEARS, CANR HAS ADVOCATED TO
IMPROVE QUALITY OF CARE AND LIFE
FOR LONG TUM CARE FACILITY
RESIDENTS, AND AN OMBUDSMAN HAVE
BEEN ALONGSIDE THROUGHOUT THE
YEARS WITH THEIR DIRECT ADVOCACY
OMBUDSMAN UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF
CALIFORNIA MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATION AND THE FUNDING HAS
NOT KEPT UP WITH THE STATE'S
GROWING AGING POPULATION. AS A
FORMER OMBUDSMAN, I PERSONALLY
CAN ATTEST TO THE IMPORTANCE
THIS FUNDING WOULD BRING TO THE
LONG TUM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.
IT IS THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY
TO PROTECT A VULNERABLE
POPULATION, ARE OLDER AND
DEPENDENT ADULTS IN LONG TERME
CARE AND IMPROVING THIS BUDGET
REQUEST WOULD DO SO MUCH FOR A
VITAL PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AND
AFFILIATION PLEASE. HELLO, MY
NAME IS MONICA KIRKLAND. I AM
THE STATE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR
SENIOR SERVICES COALITION OF
ALAMEDA COUNTY AND, IT IS AN
COALITION THAT IS MADE UP OF
ABOUT 40 ORGANIZATIONS. AND IT'S
NON PROFIT, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. AND WE OFFER
SOCIAL SUPPORTS AND HEALTH TO
OLDER ADULTS WITHIN OUR COUNTY.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE DO HAVE
SOME GROWING CONCERNS BASED ON
THE FLUCTUATION IN THE REVENUE
AT THE CURRENT TIME AND THE
GROWING POSSIBLE OR THE
POTENTIAL FOR THE GROWING
DEFICIT, AND ALSO, THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE
SUGGESTION TO, SUGGESTION FOR
THE CALIFORNIA OLDER
CALIFORNIANS ACT, PROGRAMS TO AS
A SUGGESTION TO, CUT SOME OF
THOSE FUNDING, BECAUSE IT DOES
IMPACT US. AND SO WE ARE A BIT
ALARMED BY THAT. AND SO A LOT OF
THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
ADMINISTERED BY THE CDA ARE
REALLY HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN
IMPROVING THE HEALTH OUTCOMES
AND PREVENTING CRISIS, THEY ALSO
HELP REPRESENT LIFELINES FOR A
LOT OF THESE OLDER ADULTS WHO
ARE ECONOMICALLY INSECURE AND
ALSO ISOLATED, AND THEY ADDRESS
THE STRESSORS THAT CAN REALLY
DESTABILIZE AN INDIVIDUAL OR
FAMILY AND LEAD TO DISPLACEMENT
AND HOMELESSNESS. AND SO IT IS
JUST CRITICAL AT THIS TIME, AS
WE'VE ALREADY HEARD, I KNOW FROM
MANY THAT HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN
THAT SINCE THE LAST RECESSION.
YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVEN'T
RECOVERED FROM THAT. AND SO ANY
CUTS, EVEN IN THOSE PROGRAMS, WE
JUST IT'S ALREADY ON A STRAIN
SYSTEM. AND SO WE'RE JUST ASKING
FOR YOU TO PROTECT THE FUNDING
THAT ALREADY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED,
BECAUSE WE CAN'T LOSE THOSE
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NAME AND AFFILIATION PLEASE,
GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M WENDY
PETERSON WITH THE SENIOR
SERVICES COALITION OF ALAMEDA
COUNTY, AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT CALAIM IS
ACTUALLY NOT DOING VERY WELL BY
OLDER ADULTS. RIGHT NOW, MAYBE
IN THE FUTURE, BUT RIGHT NOW
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT, ISSUES
IN, HELP OLDER ADULTS BEING ABLE
TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES IN
CALAIM FOR HOUSING SUPPORTS AND
SUCH, AND ALSO NOT EVERY OLDER
ADULT WHO IS IN CRISIS, HOMELESS
OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IS
ELIGIBLE FOR MEDI-CAL. AND
THAT'S WHAT MAKES HOME SAFE AND
HTAP SO CRITICAL IN OUR COUNTY.
THESE SERVICES HAVE BEEN GAME
CHANGERS. YOU'VE HEARD IT FROM
NEVADA COUNTY. IT'S TRUE IN
ALAMEDA COUNTY, THEY WORK WITH
OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE SO COMPLEX
THAT NONE OF THE OTHER SYSTEMS
HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO BE ABLE TO
FIGURE OUT HOW HOW TO GET THEM
STABLE, WE NEED THESE PROGRAMS.
WE'RE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT
THE IMPACT OF THE DELAY. OUR
COLLEAGUES IN OUR SOCIAL
SERVICES AGENCY IN ALAMEDA
COUNTY ARE NOT YET CLEAR ON WHAT
THE IMPACT OF DELAYED FUNDING
WOULD BE, WE APPRECIATE THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
AND THEIR INTEREST IN BEING ABLE
TO SMOOTH THINGS OUT. WE'RE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARTICULAR
IMPACT IN OUR COUNTY AND WHETHER
THAT WOULD LEAD TO A DECREASE IN
SERVICES OR REDUCTION IN STAFF,
BECAUSE THESE NEEDS ARE NOT
GOING TO BE GOING AWAY. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. HELLO. MY
NAME IS BRUNO MUSKA AND I AM
HERE ON BEHALF OF HOME MATCH. WE
ARE A NONPROFIT AT HOME SHARING
PROGRAM, WE ARE SPECIFICALLY
CONCERNED WITH AGING IN PLACE
AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, THE
CDA HAS UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT
CUTS IN THE PAST YEARS, AND
CURRENTLY THE SERVICES ARE NOT
MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING
SENIOR POPULATION, FOR INSTANCE,
OUR PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY HAS
EXPLODED IN THE LAST YEAR. MANY
SENIORS LOOKING TO STAY IN THEIR
HOMES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN FOR
40, 50 YEARS, PLUS THEY CAN NO
LONGER AFFORD TO DO SO, MANY OF
OUR PARTICIPANTS UTILIZE THE
PROGRAMS YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT
TODAY, AND WE ARE A VERY SMALL
PROGRAM. WE HEAVILY RELY ON
REFERRALS TO THESE PROGRAMS THAT
YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY, AS WE
KNOW, INSECURITY IN ONE FACET,
SUCH AS SAFETY OR FOOD SECURITY
AFFECTS OTHERS, SUCH AS HOUSING
AND VICE VERSA. SO I ASK THE
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE TO
MAKE A COMMITMENT TO PROTECT THE
FUNDING FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY
BASED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR
OLDER ADULTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NAME
AND AFFILIATION PLEASE. HI GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA
GÓMEZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF STATE
POLICY AND ADVOCACY FOR THE
COALITION FOR HUMANE IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS. CHIRLA. AS A PANELIST
HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER TODAY,
SENIORS OF COLOR
DISPROPORTIONATELY FACE POVERTY
AS THEY AGE, WITH REGARDS TO
THIS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
HIGHLIGHT HOW UNDOCUMENTED
SENIORS, IN PARTICULAR ARE
SUSCEPTIBLE TO POVERTY, RECENT
EXPANSION TO PROGRAMS LIKE
CALFRESH ARE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL
TO UNDOCUMENTED SENIORS.
HOWEVER, UNDOCUMENTED SENIORS
ARE STILL LACKING ACCESS TO A
CRITICAL PROGRAM. THE CASH
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR
IMMIGRANTS CAN BE CALIFORNIA'S
VERSION OF SSI FOR AGING AND
QUALIFIED IMMIGRANTS WHO LACK
ACCESS TO FEDERAL SSI WITHOUT
IMMIGRATION REFORM AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, UNDOCUMENTED
SENIORS ARE AGING INTO POVERTY
AND UNCERTAINTY, WE UNDERSTAND
THAT CALIFORNIA FACES A BUDGET
DEFICIT, AND DURING A TIME OF
ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS FACE EVEN GREATER
NEED. AND IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
WE SUPPORT OUR UNDOCUMENTED,
UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY AND THEIR
ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT SERVE AS
A LIFELINE TO PREVENT POVERTY
AND SENIOR POPULATIONS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NAME
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. HELLO. MY
NAME IS KAYLEE. I'M WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION FOR ADULT
DAY SERVICES. I'M ALSO A
PROVIDER WITH THREE PROGRAMS IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AND OUR
NEWEST PROGRAM THAT WE OPENED
LAST MONTH IN NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA. I'M HERE TODAY TO
SPEAK ON THE BRIDGE TO RECOVERY
GRANT PROGRAM AS A GRANTEE. THE
PROCESS WAS OF COMPLICATED AND
CONVOLUTED AND EVEN THOUGH THE
FUNDS WERE APPROPRIATED TO TWO
YEARS AGO IN THE 2122 BUDGET
PROCESS, THE FUNDS HAVE JUST
STARTED BEING RELEASED THROUGH A
REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS. AND WHILE
WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS
DIFFICULT TO GET THE GRANT OFF
THE GROUND, WE WANTED TO COME
TOGETHER AS A PROVIDER COMMUNITY
TO CONTINUE TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY WITH CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING, WHO HAVE
BEEN REALLY GOOD PARTNERS
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO USING BOTH THE FUNDS
THAT WERE ALLOCATED IN ROUND
ONE, AND WILL BE CONTINUE TO DO
SO IN ROUND TWO FOR WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT, WAGE DIFFERENTIALS,
AND TO BUILD FACILITY FACILITY
RESILIENCE AS COVID 19 IS STILL
EXISTS AND IS STILL A RISK
FACTOR FOR MANY OF OUR
POPULATION, WHO ARE THE MOST
MEDICALLY COMPLEX AND VULNERABLE
OLDER ADULTS AND PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES. AND WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK TODAY THAT THE
FUNDS CONTINUE TO BE PROTECTED
WITHIN THE BUDGET SO THAT ROUND
TWO, WITH EXPANDED CATEGORIES
OF, OF DIFFERENT PURCHASES AND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS
CAN BE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE
PROVIDERS WITH THE FINANCIAL
SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO
CONTINUE TO OPERATE THEIR
PROGRAMS, WHICH DO CONTINUE TO
BE AT RISK BECAUSE OF
HISTORICALLY LOW REIMBURSEMENT
RATES. BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO
USING THE BRIDGE TO RECOVERY
PROGRAM TO AT LEAST BRIDGE THE
GAP AND HELP BOLSTER THE
PROGRAMS FOR THE TIME BEING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NAME AND AFFILIATION. PLEASE
HELLO, MY NAME IS THèC SÐNG. THE
BUSINESS OWNER FOR FROM FOR CVS,
EDC CENTERS IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. OUR CENTERS SERVE
LOW INCOME OLDER ADULTS WITH
CHRONIC DISEASE AND DISABILITIES
. THEY ARE MAINLY HISPANIC AND
ASIAN POPULATIONS. OUR CENTERS
WERE APPROVED FOR ROUND ONE TO
PARTIAL FUNDING. THE BRIDGE
APPLICATION PROCESS ITSELF WAS
EXTREMELY COMPLICATED AND AS A
RESULT, FUNDS WERE LATE. WE
URGENTLY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT AS THE CURRENT MEDI-CAL
REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE
INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT
OPERATIONS AND TO SERVE OUR
VULNERABLE PARTICIPANTS. OUR
STAFF ARE ESSENTIAL DIRECTOR
HEALTH CARE WORKERS. HOWEVER,
MOST OF OUR STAFFS ARE
UNDERPAID. WE DESPERATELY NEED
FUNDING TO RECRUIT REGISTERED
NURSES, PROGRAM AIDES,
TRANSPORTATION AIDES AND THE
MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS. AND
ALSO, LIKE A TRANSPORTATION
AIDES TO SERVE OUR PARTICIPANTS
WITH SPECIALIZED MEDICAL NEEDS.
WE'RE HERE TO ASK TO PROTECT THE
BRIDGE FUND AND ENCOURAGE A
SPEEDIER PROCESS TO AFFORD THE
BRIDGE FUND. ROUND TWO. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON,
LYDIA MICHAILIDIS. AND I'M WITH
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION FOR
ADULT DAY SERVICES. SO FIRST I
WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS
APPROPRIATION OF BRIDGE TO
RECOVERY FUNDS. THAT IS SO
NEEDED AND HERE TO SUPPORT WHAT
YOU'VE HEARD FROM OUR PROVIDERS
WHO DESPERATELY NEED THESE
FUNDS. AND A REMINDER THAT
PROVIDERS, PARTICIPANTS AND
CAREGIVERS REMAIN IN AN EXTENDED
PANDEMIC RECOVERY MODE AND
DESPERATELY NEED THESE FUNDS FOR
STAFF AND SAFETY. SO LAST, I
JUST WANT TO SAY A SPONSORS.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT. WE NEVER
IMAGINED THAT IT WOULD TAKE THIS
LONG TO GET THESE FUNDS OUT INTO
THE HANDS OF OUR COMMUNITY
PROVIDERS WHO SERVE OUR OUR MOST
FRAIL MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. BUT I'M GOING TO
EXPRESS OPTIMISM THAT ROUND TWO,
AS YOU HEARD FROM OUR DEPARTMENT
OF AGING, WILL BE IMPROVED AND
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE
THEM FEEDBACK IN A VERY TIMELY
WAY. IF WE SEE THINGS THAT HAVE
NOT BEEN IMPROVED OVER ROUND
ONE. SO AGAIN, OUR ASK TODAY IS
TO JUST ASSURE THAT THESE, FUNDS
THAT ARE GOING TO BE
APPROPRIATED IN ROUND TWO ARE
PROTECTED. AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF
THESE PROGRAMS AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, OUR PARTICIPANTS
AND CAREGIVERS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. HEY THERE.
EMILINE MATHIS WITH THE CENTER
FOR CAREGIVER ADVANCEMENT. WE'RE
A TRAINING PARTNER OF THE
CAREERS PATHWAYS PROGRAM, AND
WE'RE HERE TO URGE THE COMMITTEE
TO EXPLORE ALL FUNDING OPTIONS
TO PROTECT THE IHSS CAREER
PATHWAYS PROGRAM. EVIDENCE SHOWS
THAT QUALITY TRAINING FOR HOME
CARE WORKERS RESULTS RESULTS IN
A 46% REDUCTION IN RECIPIENT
HOSPITALIZATIONS. THAT MAKES
THIS PROGRAM A BENEFIT TO BOTH
PROVIDERS AND THOSE THEY CARE
FOR. THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM
HAS BEEN UPLIFTED AS PART OF THE
MPA, AND ENDING IT WOULD BE A
TRUE DISSERVICE TO THE STATE'S
CAREGIVING WORKFORCE. WE
APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT FROM
THE CHAIR TO MEET WITH THE
DEPARTMENT AND STAKEHOLDERS TO
ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAM GOALS
ARE FULLY ACTUALIZED AND ENSURE
THAT THESE UNDERVALUED WORKERS
ARE NOT ROBBED OF THIS
HISTORICAL WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY
. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LEÓN
AFFILIATION. PLEASE HI, I'M
ROBERT COLE, I'M PART OF THE CA
FOR SSI COALITION AND ON SSI, A
LOT OF PEOPLE ON SSI ARE EITHER
AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS,
LIVING SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, OR
ARE HOMELESS RIGHT NOW, POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE
WITH THE RENT OR RENTAL DEPOSIT
WHEN THEY GO TO A NEW PLACE TO
LIVE, BUILD MORE HOUSING AND
ALSO NOW GOING TO GET UP ON
HOMELESSNESS, 9281 PEOPLE
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS,
ACCORDING TO POINT IN TIME COUNT
BACK IN 2022, CITIES, COUNTIES
AND STATE HAVE TO DO A LOT
BETTER JOB AND REDUCING
HOMELESSNESS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. MARTHA
GUERRERO, REPRESENTING THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AND LISTENING TODAY, WE
ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE ICE
BRIDGE FUNDING AND THE COUNTY
ADMIN BUDGET METHODOLOGY THAT
QUDA IS SPONSORING AND PRESENTED
TODAY, AS WE KNOW THAT, IN THE
IHSS PROGRAM IS CONTRIBUTING TO
HIGHER CASE LOADS, IN THE COUNTY
POTENTIALLY REACHING PER
CASEWORKER, ABOUT 560 TO 600
CONSUMERS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO
AN ASSESSMENT. SO THE CURRENT
STATE METHODOLOGY UNDERCOUNTS
THE TRUE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS
ASSISTED BY THE IHSS PROGRAM,
BECAUSE IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE
WORKLOAD ASSOCIATED WITH
PROCESSING AN APPLICATION. SO IF
THAT APPLICATION DOES NOT LEAD
TO SOMEONE ACTUALLY RECEIVING
SERVICES SOMETIMES AS WELL, AN
AVERAGE ASSESSMENT TAKES FROM
TWO TO 2.5 HOURS FOR EACH
INDIVIDUAL. SO THE CURRENT
METHODOLOGY DOES NOT COUNT THE
NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
APPROVED FOR SERVICES, AND ONLY
COUNTS THOSE THAT ARE UNABLE TO
SECURE PROVIDERS. SO FOR THESE
REASONS, I, URGE YOUR SUPPORT
FOR THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NAME AFFILIATION,
PLEASE, MR. CHAIRMAN, MY NAME IS
PETER ANDERSON. I'M WITH THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING,
AND THE COMMISSION STRONGLY
SUPPORTS ALL THE EFFORTS ON BY
THE DEPARTMENT, TO MAINTAIN
CURRENT PROGRAMS AND HOPEFULLY
THE SAME FUNDING LEVELS AND
ALSO, THE COMMISSION IS PROUD
TO, TO SPONSOR SB 1249, WHICH
THE DIRECTOR PREVIOUSLY REFERRED
TO THIS BILL. THIS BILL BUILDS
ON THE EXISTING WORK, WORK OF
THE, MASTER PLAN ON AGING AND
ALSO THE, 2030 PROGRAM TO
DEVELOP TACTICS AND STRATEGIES
TO PREPARE CALIFORNIA'S AGING
NETWORK FOR THE FUTURE. AND
FINALLY, JUST AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF THE QUALITY WORK, AS USUAL BY
YOUR STAFF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, WANT TO, SEEING. NO
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE'D LIKE TO THANK
COMMITTEE STAFF. WOULD LIKE TO
THANK DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
LAO, THANK OUR, SERGEANTS AS
WELL. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO
HAVE PARTICIPATED, AND WE WILL
BE ADJOURNED